Eritrean dissident programme observed on Ethiopian state radio

ADDIS ABABA, May 28, 2005 — BBC Monitoring observed a programme produced by an Eritrean opposition movement on two shortwave frequencies used by the external service of Radio Ethiopia, at 1501-1600 gmt on 25 May 2005.

At 1501 gmt on 7165.1 and 9560.3 kHz, following on immediately from a Radio Ethiopia external service broadcast in Arabic, there was an identification announcement in Arabic as “Voice of the Democratic Alliance” (Sawt al-Tahalufa al-Dimuqrati), followed at 1530 gmt by a programme in the Kunama language. Radio Ethiopia’s external service resumed at 1600 gmt with a broadcast in English.

The Voice of the Democratic Alliance programme is believed to have been on the air since 21 April 2005, in accordance with the following schedule:

Sunday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in Tigrinya

Monday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in Kunama

Tuesday 1500-1530 gmt in Tigrinya, 1530-1600 gmt in Afar

Wednesday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in Kunama

Thursday 1500-1530 gmt in Tigrinya, 1530-1600 gmt in Afar

Friday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in Kunama

Saturday 1500-1530 gmt in Tigrinya, 1530-1600 gmt in Afar

Voice of the Democratic Alliance is produced by the Eritrean Democratic Alliance coalition, an umbrella grouping of 16 opposition parties.

Radio Ethiopia is that country’s state broadcaster, and has a website at http://www.angelfire.com/biz/radioethiopia