02 October 2001

Rep. Royce Introduces Bill to Create "Radio Free Afghanistan"

By Steve La Rocque
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Representative Edward Royce (Republican of California) introduced legislation October 2 that would create a "Radio Free Afghanistan" to broadcast into that country.

In a press release issued that day, Royce said the Afghan people "deserve to hear the truth about what is happening in the region and with their ruling Taliban government."

The measure, H.R. 2998, was referred to the House International Relations Committee. Among those cosponsoring the Royce bill were Representatives Howard Berman (Democrat of California), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican of Florida), James Leach (Republican of Iowa), and Chris Smith (Republican of New Jersey).

Royce, a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, said the legislation would create Radio Free Afghanistan under the existing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty services.

"This legislation would revive the broadcasts that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were doing when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan during the Cold War," Royce said. "They are familiar with the challenges of broadcasting to Afghanistan, and have the institutional knowledge to perform these broadcasts and get them up and running quickly."

The proposed legislation would allow Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to perform surrogate broadcasts into Afghanistan, and would authorize $8 million for fiscal year 2002, which began October 1, and $6 million for fiscal year 2003.

These funds, according to the news release, would allow for a new transmitter, and roughly 12 hours a day of broadcasting into Afghanistan in local languages (6 hours in Pashto and 6 hours in Dari).

Radio Free Afghanistan is "urgently needed to inform Afghans what their ruling Taliban government was doing, and to tell the truth about world events, including the September 11 terrorist attacks," the news release says.

"Horrible things are being said right now that are not being countered. There is a lot of anti-Semitic, anti-American, anti-Western hate radio being broadcast by the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's organization. Radio Free Afghanistan is needed to broadcast the American ideals of democracy, liberty, and freedom to listeners in the region," Royce said.