[HCDX] RFPI - Locked Out !!!!

["Gayle Van Horn" <gayle@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For Immediate Release:
                                                                       
     
For More Information contact:  

* RFPI at email: info@xxxxxxxx
* James Latham, General Manager, RFPI: 011 (506) 249-1821
* Naomi Fowler, Program Director, RFPI: 011 (506) 249-1821
* Emily Morales, Operations, RFPI: 011 (506) 249-1821
* US Contact: Jean Parker, Board of Directors: (303) 355-9935

On Monday, July 21, 2003 a University for Peace representative
delivered an eviction notice to Radio For Peace International (RFPI)
which has been operating since 1987 by mutual agreement on the
University campus in El Rodeo, Costa Rica. The Radio station's access
gate was locked with chains and patrolled by armed guards employed by
the University for Peace. In 
addition, the radio station was advised to vacate its facilities in two
weeks.

Radio For Peace employees made a plea to the armed guards to allow them
to leave the locked premises on Monday night, although some have not
left the premises since the eviction notice.

According to General Manager James Latham, the unexplained and legally
questionable decision to evict RFPI endangers the livelihood of the
station's employees, and also threatens to silence the voice of peace
on international airwaves.   "This is more than an eviction, this is
about the right to free speech," says James Latham, Chief Executive
Officer of Radio for Peace international.  "What is most shocking and
sad is that this action comes from an international peace
organization."

University for Peace co-founder, former Costa Rican President Rodrigo
Carazo Odio, invited RFPI in 1985 to build and manage its own office
and studios on the university's Costa Rica campus. Consequently RFPI
constructed studios and transmitters, and has been broadcasting
messages of peace and social justice as well as daily United Nations 
programming.  RFPI is the only listener-supported shortwave radio
station.

Latham says that Monday's eviction notice represents poor judgment on
behalf of the new administration at the University for Peace, a United
Nations mandated university established in 1980. "RFPI has always shown
goodwill toward the University for Peace and has worked harmoniously
with the pervious 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."

To prevent the silencing of this important voice, we the Committee for
the Defense of Radio For Peace International encourages you to write
Kofi Annan in support of the radio station at: annan@xxxxxx or
sg@xxxxxx, and/or to leave a message of concern with the Public
Inquiries office at 212.963.4475.

END
Gayle Van Horn
Monitoring Times Frequency Manager
QSL Report, SWBC Logs Columnist
Grove Enterprises, the publisher of Monitoring Times magazine
Telephone: 828-837-9200/ FAX: 828-837-6100
<www.grove-ent.com> <gaylevanhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Your NUMBER ONE source for current worldwide English shortwave frequencies...updated monthly!
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