Help audiences in authoritarian countries understand the principles and practices of democratic, free and just Societies
RFA Covers China-Google Standoff
RFA’s Mandarin service covered the cyber battle between Chinese censors and netizens, reporting that Google had threatened to pull out from the China market, causing repercussions. RFA’s major coverage included Chinese netizens publishing a declaration of Internet freedom; a press conference held jointly by Congressmen Chris Smith and Frank Wolf on Google’s announcement; U.S. companies providing counter-censorship technology to netizens in China; U.S.-based Chinese activists going to Google headquarters in San Francisco to show support; and how tightened cyber control prompted calls for the dismissal of Li Yizhou, China’s minister of industry and information. RFA’s reporting of U.S. Secretary of State Clinton’s speech on Jan. 21, calling for worldwide Internet freedom, was especially important because China had blocked the text of the speech on the State Department Web site, and Chinese media, including the blogs of “People’s Daily” and Xinhua, only ran criticism of the speech but not the speech itself.

VOA Launches New Spanish-Language Program
A Fondo (In Depth) is a new weeknight, Spanish-language radio program targeted to audiences in Latin America and the Caribbean, providing vital news and information to a region where media freedom is under attack.

With anchors at Voice of America studios in Washington, D.C. and the studios of Radio Marti in Miami, the hour-long program utilizes the unique resources of both entities to provide local, national and international news reports to audiences throughout the region.

Call-in segments and interviews with experts and government officials will provide facts and opinions that are currently unavailable to listeners.

A Fondo debuted Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. EST (0100 UTC). It is available Monday to Friday on shortwave, medium-wave, satellite and Internet at (www.voanews.com/spanish/news/.) The program was developed in response to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s decision to shut down cable and satellite TV channels last month for failing to broadcast a speech he made.

“Only Way To Stop Me Is To Shoot Me,” Russian Activist Tells Russian Service
In conjunction with its coverage of the arrests of more than 100 anti-Kremlin protesters on Jan. 31, the Russian Service interviewed Ludmilla Alexeeva at Voice of America’s studios in Washington. Alexeeva, the 82-year old human rights activist who heads the Moscow Helsinki group, was one of those at the protests on Sunday. She flew to the United States shortly afterward and spoke with VOA.

Alexeeva told VOA: "You see, there are no articles in the Russian criminal code, unlike the Soviet criminal code, that would allow criminal prosecution for political reasons. The only way is trumped-up charges on regular crimes, but I am not involved in any commercial activities, I do not have any significant property. What can I be accused of? The only way to stop me is to shoot me. I have certain proof that my phone is tapped, both at home and at the [Moscow] Helsinki Group. I used to live in a totalitarian state – I was 25 when Stalin died – and then I lived in the post-totalitarian USSR. Now I live in Russia. I am used to working in different conditions.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Gives Interview at Yerevan Bureau
On Jan. 18, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stopped by RFE/RL's Armenian Service bureau in Yerevan for an exclusive, in-depth interview about Armenian-Turkish relations. The interview was not only broadcast on radio but appeared on the Service’s Web site in video format, making it the day’s top news story in the Armenian media. The top television station in Armenia showed excerpts from the interview on its nightly newscast, which was the first time that RFE/RL video appeared on a leading Armenian television station.

RFA Reports Clash Between Chinese Police and Villagers
RFA’s Cantonese service reported that more than 20 villagers were injured and some were arrested after clashes between police and villagers in a land dispute in Guilin, Guangxi. Some 700 policemen were deployed to the scene with tear gas and batons. A local resident surnamed Zhang said, “The people trying to protect the land were all elderly, women and children. …They were attacked by the riot police first, and a lot of those injured were then taken away by police.” Mr. Zhang told RFA, “(After the clash), villagers posted related news on the Internet but it has been deleted by the authorities very quickly. Some villagers used cell phones to communicate, saying they are being chased.” An employee who answered the phone at the Pingle county government, said, “Our leaders here have already dealt with this situation. Everything we did went through the municipal level authorities for approval, and the entire affairs was handled according to law.”

Tibetan Filmmaker Sentenced to 6 Years
RFA’s Tibetan service reported the news of the secret trial and sentencing of a Tibetan filmmaker and aired a follow-up news story about the family’s plan to appeal. A Chinese court in Qinghai Province sentenced Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan filmmaker who returned from exile to make a documentary about his homeland, to a six-year jail term. He was charged of “splitting the Motherland” for making the documentary. The family was not informed of the sentencing, and officials only admitted the trial took place after the family’s inquiry. The case received wide attention from international media.

RFA's Lao Service Gets Exclusive Interview on Hmong Deportation
RFA’s Lao Service focused on the Lao Hmong covered the deportation process from the Houay Nam Khao, Thailand, camp to the Lao reception venue in Borikhamxay. RFA had an exclusive interview with Lao General Bouaxiang, who is in charge of the Lao Hmong repatriation, and an in-depth analysis of the issue was also broadcast. RFA covered General Bouaxiang’s press conference in Vientiane and had a one-on-one interview with him. During the interview, he promised to allow UNHCR and international journalists to visit the resettled Hmong in April. RFA continued to follow up with the UNHCR in Bangkok, Hmong contacts in Thailand and the U.S., and concerned NGOs in Thailand.

Martis cover dissident's funeral
Radio Marti provided exclusive live, on-the-scene coverage of the funeral of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo.

Radio and TV Martí began their special coverage on Feb. 23, following confirmation of Tamayo’s death that afternoon. Broadcasts included a four-hour live radio program with reaction from Cuba, as well as interviews with Tamayo’s mother, father and other Cuban dissidents.

On February 25, Radio Martí broadcast the funeral live from the city of Banes in Holguin Province, Cuba, where Tamayo was buried.

Coverage included a live description of the ceremony at Tamayo’s family home and the funeral procession. This program was immediately rebroadcast by TV Martí and made available on OCB’s Web site, martinocitias.com.

Tamayo died after an 80-plus day hunger strike to demand better prison conditions.