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[HCDX] ESAT accuses China of complicity in jamming signals
ESAT accuses China of complicity in jamming signals
http://www.abugidainfo.com/?p=18210
esat1The Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), which resumed transmissions to Ethiopia
last week after nearly two months of interruption, has urged the government of the People´s
Republic of China to desist from providing technology, training and technical assistance to
the regime in Ethiopia to enable it to jam shortwave radio and satellite transmissions to
Ethiopia.
The Meles regime is currently blocking independent news websites and jamming the Amharic
services of the Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, and the Ethiopian Satellite Television,
among others, with the help of technology and technical assistance provided by the Chinese
government.
Since its launch in April 2010, ESAT has faced intense and persistent signal interference that
has disrupted its transmissions six times in its short span of life. ESAT´s management has
investigated the matter thoroughly and confirmed from reliable sources inside Ethiopia that
the government of China has been actively working with the Meles regime to jam ESAT´s
transmissions.
Mr. Kilfe Mulat, the exiled President of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association, has
said that China´s complicity in stifling freedom of expression and undermining efforts to
spread democratic values in Ethiopia is shameful and sets a bad precedence in the whole of
Africa. "Ethiopia is not only the seat of the AU but also a historic symbol of freedom in Africa
as the only African nation that has never been colonized. Aiding tyrants to stifle their people
and block the free flow of information is tantamount to committing unwarranted crimes
against the freedom-loving people of Africa that are making sacrifices to exercise their
inalienable rights and free themselves from corrupt tyrants that are hampering progress in
the continent."
The President of EFPJA also urged organizations and nations promoting freedom and
democracy to provide resources and support to the Ethiopian Satellite Television to
overcome the China-backed jamming challenge that has seriously threatened the survival of
ESAT, a grassroots media project totally funded by the Ethiopian Diaspora.
Mr. Mulat further noted that the government of China must realize the fact that collaborating
with African tyrants and exporting tools of repressions to countries like Ethiopia is an
inexcusable act that will further tarnish the image of China as a sponsor of tyranny and
oppression.
ESAT, which was set up by a group of Ethiopian exiled journalists and pro-democracy
activists to fend off Prime Minister Meles Zenawi´s war every avenue of freedom, has been
facing attacks and interference by the Meles regime.
"In addition to building Internet firewalls for the regime, China has emerged as one of the
most formidable enemies of freedom in Ethiopia and the entire continent of Africa. China
should realize the fact that the Meles regime is violating its own constitution that guarantees
freedom of expression to citizens. By assisting the Meles regime in jamming ESAT and other
reputable broadcasters illegally, China can only earn the condemnation of freedom-loving
Ethiopians who do not wish to see their liberty trampled upon by internal and external
powers," ESAT´s management said.
Article 29 of the current Ethiopian constitution stipulates: "Everyone has the right to freedom
of expression without any interference. This right shall include freedom to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in
print, in the form of art, or through any media of his choice." But the Meles regime is widely
known for violating basic rights with impunity.
ESAT has been forced to change satellite service providers at least four times in the last one
year. It started broadcasting its programs to Ethiopia on Arabsat but was forced off air due to
intense signal interference and diplomatic pressure. Similarly, an effort to continue
broadcasting on Thaicon was interrupted after a few months, once again, due to intense
diplomatic pressure. But ESAT´s tenacious management team continued transmissions on
Intelsat, an American satellite company. While a diplomatic effort to disrupt ESAT
transmissions failed, the Meles regime managed to jam ESAT´s signals using the jamming
equipment provided by the Chinese government.
ESAT, the first independent TV station viewed by millions of Ethiopians, has reiterated its
commitment to making every effort to continue its transmissions and find ways of overcoming
the Sino-Ethiopia jamming and censorship project.
ESAT, which has studios in Amsterdam, Washington DC and London, is currently
transmitting 24/7 on ABS1 Satellite, C-Band at 75 East Downlink: 3.480 GHz Vertical (3480),
Symbol: 1.852 Msps (1852), FEC 2/3. It has plans to transmit on a Ku-Band and shortwave
radio with a view to reaching wider audience in Ethiopia. ESAT also webcasts its
transmissions on www.ethsat.com.Standard rig : ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads
Sennheiser
Please read and distribute this 15 year research article http://tinyurl.com/5vzg7e
Please read my article on SINPO at http://tinyurl.com/yt7qjd
________________________
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........
Zacharias Liangas , Thessaloniki Greece
greekdx @ otenet dot gr ---
Pesawat penerima: ICOM R75 , Lowe HF150 , Degen 1102,1103,108,
Tecsun PL200/550, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000
Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop
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