|
To prevent the silencing of this important voice, we the Committee for the Defense of Radio For Peace International encourage you to write
Mr. Kofi Annan in support of the radio station at: annan@un.org
and/or to leave a message of concern with the Public Inquiries office at
(212) 963-4475 requesting their intervention.
Here is a sample letter which also includes some background information. Thank you.
Dear
My inquiry regards the eviction notice and lockout that occurred on July 21 on the premises of Radio for Peace International (RFPI), an international shortwave broadcaster based at the University for Peace in Costa Rica (Rodeo campus). Armed guards employed by the University for Peace have chain locked the gate and are patrolling the facility. RFPI staff were apparently very much taken by surprise by the action of the new University administration. I have attached the action alert that apprized me of this very serious situation.
(http://www.rfpi.org)
It was suggested that I clarify in a fax/letter exactly how this is a United Nations issue of concern to your office. I have done so below. It would be best were this matter investigated by the Office of the Secretary-General sooner than later, so that the station can continue with its normal operations and so that litigation can be avoided. Following that, I have several questions.
Background:
The University for Peace is a United Nations mandated university established in 1985. University for Peace co-founder, former Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo Odio, invited RFPI to build and manage its own office and studios on the university's Costa Rica campus. RFPI is the only listener-supported short wave radio station in the world and the station has regularly carried United Nations Daily News Monday through Friday for as long as I can remember.
For almost two decades, United Nations Radio has maintained a close working partnership with Radio for Peace International - a shortwave broadcasting station that transmits its programming from the campus of the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Radio for Peace International retransmitted taped and news programmes of United Nations Radio in English, French and Spanish to audiences in the Caribbean and Central America. Starting in September 2000, when United Nations Radio launched its daily live news and current affairs programme in the six official languages, Radio for Peace International began broadcasting the programme in English and Spanish to same target regions.
http://www.un.org/ga/coi/6e.htm
Cooperation between the Department of Public Information and the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Report of the Secretary-General A/AC.198/2001/6 1 March 2001
I am bringing this matter to your urgent attention for several important reasons:
(1) United Nations Daily News risks losing an important broadcast outlet. RFPI reaches listeners in both the developed and developing world. These listeners are constituents who are concerned with issues of world peace and development, and the role of the United Nations in achieving both.
(2) The University for Peace in Costa Rica is chartered by the United Nations under United Nations General Assembly resolution 35/55 of 5 December 1980: Establishment of the University for Peace
(http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/50/ares50-41.htm).
Articles 2 and 3 of the annex to that agreement state that the "headquarters of the University shall be established on land donated for this purpose by the government of Costa Rica" and that "the University shall have in the host country such legal capacity and facilities and shall enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of its function and fulfillment of its purposes."
Article 5 ("Organization") names the Council of the University for Peace as the governing body and Article 6 ("Composition of the Council") states that the Council shall include "four representatives designated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, by the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, by the Rector of the United Nations University, and by the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, respectively."
(http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/35/a35r51e.pdf)
(3) Radio for Peace International is part of a larger movement toward more democratic media. Those of us have supported the development of such media alternatives, who have invested our capital, whether it be our labor or financial support, have every right to ask questions and to be given a thorough explanation when the administration of a land-grant university under charter of the United Nations General Assembly closes the facilities of Radio for Peace International. We have every right to question and to be given a thorough explanation of how this came to pass, given the official United Nations representation on the governing Council. The Office of the Secretary-General has a clear responsibility to investigate this matter and take appropriate action.
(4) Litigation would be unfortunate. As RFPI CEO James Latham states: "RFPI has always shown goodwill toward the University for Peace and has worked harmoniously with the previous four administrations. Our shared goals to work toward ending war is what brought our two organizations together, and in the world today there is still much work to be done. Instead of focusing on how to eliminate a fellow peace organization, we need to channel our energy toward eliminating war, poverty and hunger."
I have several questions that I'd like your office to address:
(1) What was the role, if any, of the Council of the University for Peace in the decision to evict and padlock the access gate to the facilities of Radio for Peace International? Were the council or any individual members consulted in this action, or was it a unilateral action on the part of the University administration?
(2) If the Council or individual members of the Council were aware of the pending situation, did they communicate this to the Office of the Secretary-General or any other United Nations office?
(3) Has the matter come to the personal attention of the Secretary-General of the United Nations?
(4) What rationale has been offered to justify these actions by University administration? It appears that the staff and management of RFPI were taken completely by surprise by the University's administrative action. Why were they not consulted?
This action appears to be unprecedented. When governments padlock the gates of radio stations, that is called repression. For this to happen on a land-grant university under charter of the United Nations is quite astounding. The matter needs to be thoroughly investigated and hopefully resolved in short order.
Financial pressures may require restructuring. However, administrative decisions taken without consultation and without a full accounting of the larger impact of such actions undermine the integrity of the institution. It is too often the case that during times of financial difficulty, administrators over-step. Apparently, the fact that RFPI is a listener-supported shortwave broadcaster was not considered, or seriously considered, by the new administration.
I have been a listener and supporter of RFPI since the early 90's. On occasion, I have contributed content to the station. This is not an investment that I'd like to see thrown away. If litigation becomes necessary, I will support that effort in whatever way I can. I'd rather be spending my time working for peace and justice and pursuing my journalistic and advocacy work than defending the station against what appear to be a misguided administrative action.
Sincerely,
RFPI
is incurring steep legal bills in its fight to stay alive, eating deeply
into our operating budget. We need to raise several thousand dollars to
keep up the struggle. Can you help us? Just click on the
button below to donate whatever you can.
Or
send your contribution to: RFPI, PO Box 3165, Newberg, OR 97132.
Be sure to note "Legal defense fund" on your check.
This
is your radio station and the only one of its kind in the
world. Let's make sure that it survives!!
And be sure to check back here often
for updates to the current situation and how you can stay
involved. We greatly appreciate your support!
On to the RFPI
website ---> |