From: FreeLao@igc.org*** (Lao Houn Mai)

A Demonstration will be held in Washington DC on Thursday 13th August to protest against abuses of the mandate given by the US Congress to Radio Free Asia to promote free speech and democracy in Asia.

Under the US International Broadcasting Act 1994, the function of Radio Free Asia is to provide accurate and timely information, news, and commentary about events in the respective countries of Asia and elsewhere [elsewhere specified as: China, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam]; and to be a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within Asian nations whose people do not fully enjoy freedom of expression.

Why then does Radio Free Asia broadcast propaganda vilifying dissidents such as Aung San Suu Khi, covering up news of human rights abuses in the relevant countries, and supporting the REPRESSION of freedom of speech by the repressive regimes of the respective countries?

Our demonstration is aimed at drawing public attention to these problems and calling on the US Congress to hold full congressional hearings to investigate every aspect of the operations, management and broadcasts of Radio Free Asia.

Date:

Thursday 13th August 1998

Time, Location: Please note that the demonstration will be held in two locations: first in front of Radio Free Asia offices at 2025 M Street, NW, and then in front of the US Capitol Building, at the following times: Radio Free Asia, 2025 M Street NW, Washington DC: 10 am until 11 am

US Capitol Building West Lower Terrace (In front of the fountain on the West side of the Congress building, facing the National Mall) 11.30 am to 4 pm

Since the President of RFA Richard Richter and the Vice President Dan Southerland are deeply implicated in the problems against which we are protesting, the main event will be at the US Congress, in their capacity as the relevant higher authority.

NOTE: There have been many allegations that we are demonstrating against the US government, but this is not true. It was the US Congress, as elected representatives of the American people, who passed the law creating Radio Free Asia, and it was the US Congress who voted funding for it from US taxpayers' money. We thank the US Congress for their generous efforts to support the principles of free speech and democracy by creating and funding Radio Free Asia, and commend the worthy objectives set out for Radio Free Asia in the US International Broadcasting Act 1994. However the actual performance of Radio Free Asia under its President Richard Richter is a TROJAN HORSE which intentionally does exactly the opposite of what the American people intended - it is supporting REPRESSION FOR ASIA.

We do not criticise the performance of the US Congress in this respect - we are criticising the management of Radio Free Asia for acting in breach of the law, and calling on Congress to listen to our allegations and to investigate them fully in congressional hearings.

For further information please see our web site at:

Http://www.LaoHounMai.org/laos/rfa/protest.htm

A full press pack will be released shortly at:

Http://www.LaoHounMai.org/laos/rfa/press/press.htm

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