LatinRadical

Coup in Honduras - eyewitness report

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:58:41 PDT

Toni covers the Honduran coup

Popout

Chiapas - Blitz on Human Rights: Julie Webb reports

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:56:19 PDT

7.4Mb. 100kbps mono. 12 mins

Julie Webb, journalist for "Scoop" gives us an update on the increasingly tense situation in Chiapas, particularly the harassment of the Human Rights organisation Fray Bartholome de las Casas, by Mexican government security and paramilitary forces. Chiapas peasants are living on land that the neo-conservative 'developers' want to get their hands on, and human rights organisations like 'Fray Barta' is often the only thing standing between them and outright pillage.

Popout

Original audio source (JulieChiapas22_Jun_2009.mp3)

New Salvadoran President straight talking breaks protocol. Report from CISPES

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:21:32 PDT

Alexis was one of those of the CISPES delegation to see the first 'leftist' President of El Salvador take the Presidential sash after a clearly won electoral victory over the 20 year right wing corrupt regime. It was a regime, closely allied with the US Republican Party, that was founded by the author of the notorious Death Squads of the 1970s and 1980s.

The FMLN has shown a patience and tolerance above and beyond the call of duty to demonstrate its commitment as a truly democratic party to serve the people. These were people who were its base, and support during a 12 year 'civil war'.

The presence of virtually all the dignitaries of Latin America, as well as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was a tribute to that expression of popular support. Probably not much said in the mainstream 'anglo media', but to Salvadorans, and Latin America in general it was a 'date with history'.

The Americas are changing, and Alexis gives us an eyewitness account of the significance of this event in San Salvador. Not only for the dignitaries, but for the people who came to the stadium to support this initiative for a long awaited change.

Musical bands who were for many years 'illegal' arrived to pay a Latin American tribute to this 'date with history', when the popular new President arrived to address his supporters at the stadium, before the formal cocktail parties of the evening with foreign dignatories.

Popout

Original audio source (Alexis_Cispeswebversion.mp3)

El Salvador - can the left take power? Comment from CISPES

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:25:44 PDT

Burke Stansbury, coordinator of CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) is about to fly into El Salvador to see the inauguration of the FMLN backed President of El Salvador. The election of Mauricio Funes as President has created a sense of political turmoil ... and hopes. Burke puts this event in perspective.

Popout

Original audio source (BurkePt1Inauguration29_May_2009_08_37_14.mp3)

San Salvador - Noticia Syndicalista. Union Europea y impuestos. (Espanol - Spanish

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:24:27 PDT

(Spanish language - Espanol)

Daniel Ernesto Hernandez Castillo (Secretario General del Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria de Procesamiento de Alimientos - SITIPA - ) explique lo que esta pasando ahorita con el Sindicato de procesadoras de comida, y los pescadores de La Union, ciudad puertuario de El Salvador. Hay contratos con empresas espanoles por la venta de atun. Pero tambien hay violaciones de derechos sindicales, y el gobierno ARENA-ero no esta en la onda para corregir estos atropellos de los derechos de los trabajadores y sindicalistas.

Popout

Original audio source (DanielMay11net.mp3)

Central America corruption - Guatemalan scandal

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:23:33 PDT

While the maggots of curruption crawl out of the carcase of the neo-fascist Arena party in El Salvador, in neighbouring Guatemala a leading lawyer has busted the President, his wife, and top officials in the biggest bank in Guatemala with a death message - A leading Guatemalan journalist made a video of a statement by a lawyer whose clients were killed in April for their ability to directly implicate the President and his wife in money laundering, involving the biggest bank in Guatemala.

The journalist made the video last Thursday "... If you are watching this, it is because I have been murdered... " he was murdered on Sunday.

There are strong links between drug trafficking and neo-liberal, and neo fascist governments. Governments don't actually do 'hands on' drug trafficking, but they are essential to the money laundering required to pay the lip service to the US Drug Enforcement Agency. There are proven links between the drug traffickers, money laundering, and high officials in the Salvadoran ARENA government that is now on the defensive after last month's presidential election victory agains them.

This news is only breaking locally, but watch this space for further revelations that are emerging in the local press, that has only recently found to the courage to publish stories of police and high level governmental corruption.

Popout

Original audio source (tMay14pt1.mp3)

Torogozes de Morazan - Una historia personal de una guerra civil. (uncut spanish interview with surviving founder of guerilla band).

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:22:51 PDT

Felipe 'Torogoz' nos regale una narrativa, que incluye una historia muy personal, de sus experiencieas de la guerra civil de El Salvador, de como se hizo el conjunto legendario guerillero de 'Los Torogozes de Morazan', como el grupo cambio sus integrantes cuando uno por uno, varios cayeron en combate. Y mas que todo, como se motivaron en la lucha, con experiencias que no todos enfrentaron, ni saben como enfrentar. Felipe sigue, humilde, comprometido, vive como campesino y un fuente de una historia que vive en el pueblo.

Popout

Original audio source (TorogozEntire.mp3)

Where are they now? The guerilla band "Torogozes de Morazan' still out there (lo-fi mono)

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:22:02 PDT

6Mb mono 32 kbps 25 minutes

Mayday 2009 in San Salvador - still buzzing enough to catch a 6:am bus to Morazan where I had an interview with another living legend - Felipe 'Torogoz', the founder and songwriter for the guerilla band 'Los Torogozes de Morazan' - Morazan being the 'liberated zone' during the Salvadoran civial war and 'Los Torogozes' being the 'official' guerilla band for the FMLN and radio Venceremos. Felipe claims that he was 'just another guerilla' (and before the formation of the FMLN, an activist), but was coopted into forming a guerilla musical group when a Spanish journalist overheard him making up a song during a moment of relaxation by a riverside. The journalist persuaded the guerilla commandante to get Felipe to recruit a guerilla band, and the rest is history.

Felipe was a bit burnt out after doing two gigs back to back in villages over a hundred kilometres apart, in celebration of the inauguration of newly elected FMLN mayors, but we held the interview to the next day, and Felipe privileged community radio with an impromptu performance of the first song he ever wrote.

Oh ... and quite by chance, wandering around the village before my interview with Felipe, I came across a 'garage band' who turned out to be the sons and daughters of ex-combatants - in fact, the lead singer was Felipe's son!

Popout

Original audio source (PerquinMay2mono.mp3)

Mayday San Salvador - Bilingual soundscape (Hi-Fi Version)

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:20:34 PDT

Mayday in San Salvador ... a very different Mayday from years before when marches were attacked with bombs, buzzed by helicopters and had to take measures to protect themselves. An FMLN backed Presidential candidate won the Presidential elections on March 15. It was the first defeat for the right wing ARENA party(founded by the Death Squad runner, Roberto D'Aubuisson) in twenty years. The people are jubilant, but most importantly, they were allowed to march in fairly peaceful conditions after forty years of heavy repression - when still they marched. El Salvador has always featured some of the most solidly supported Mayday marches in the world.

Warwick Fry compares his experiences of the Mayday marches of the 1970s and the the 1980s with this year's march of 2009, at a time when an FMLN President is about to step into the administration of the country after a convincing vote of support from the FMLN. The neoliberal neofascist ARENA party still has a strong grip on the legal system, but it is being challenged with the prospect of a President who is not a puppet of those interests. He has a hard walk ahead of him.

Popout

Original audio source (1SalvadorMaydayMixedLanguage.mp3)

El Salvador - Schafik Handal habla (Spanish) FMLN representative talks about El Salvador's political future

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:19:50 PDT

(Espanol)

Jorge Schafik Handal es un diputado del Parlamento CentroAmericano, y represente el FMLN. Hijo del Commandante Revolucionario Schafik Handal quien conducio el movimiento guerillo hacia un partido politico, Jorge habla de como el Partido pueda adaptarse para manejar un Estado nuevp - que tiene un Presidente eligido por el apoyo del Partido FMLN. Projectos politicas hacia el futuro ... vamos a ver

(Jorge Schafik Handal is one of the Salvadoran representaives of the Central American Parliament. Son of one of the key leaders of the guerilla movement, who led the FMLN into Parliamentary representation, the Presidential victory of a President who is supported by the FMLN represents new hope for those who see a defeat of a corrupt neoliberal government, as an opening for a new future. Jorge recognises the problems looming, But he has strong faith in the Salvadoran people)

Direct download: JorgeSchafikapril09128Stereo.mp3

Popout

Original audio source (JorgeSchafikapril09128Stereo.mp3)

El Salvador - Seguridad con el FMLN: Entrevista con Diputado Luis Corvera (Spanish language)

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:18:45 PDT

(Espanol/Spanish language)

Luis Corvera es el diputado de Santa Ana, elegido por la tercera vez a La Asemblea Nacional de El Salvador. Con esta entrevista el explica la politica del FMLN sobre la tema de seguridad publico, relaciones (pasado y futuro) entre las Fuerzas Armadas y el FMLN, cambios en la cultura de las Fuerzas Armadas, la tema de impunidad, y la Ley de Amnistia.

(Luis Alberto Corvera is the FMLN representative for Santa Ana who was reelected for his third term on the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly in the recent elections. He speaks with community radio about the position of the FMLN on issues of public security, at a time when gangs and organised crime are a growing problem in El Salvador. While the armed forces (police and military) and the FMLN were traditional enemies, the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992 brought about significant changes in the Police culture. He talks about the relationship of the FMLN with the Armed Forces, and about the FMLN's position on the still sensitive issue of impunity, and the Amnesty Law for those guilty of Human Rights violations).

Popout

Original audio source (CorveraEntrevista128.mp3)

Guerilla Radio Legend - Santiago, Radio Venceremos, with English voiceover

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:31:38 PDT

Santiago - as he is still known - was one of the key people in the development of the FMLN's guerilla Radio Venceremos. He now manages the Museum of Word and Image, which is building an archive of the popular struggle in El Salvador, so that those histories are not lost. He talks with Australian community radio about the role of alternative media in El Salvador today.

Popout

Original audio source (SantiagoVoiceover.mp3)

Las Experiencias de un ex-combatiente del equipo 'Radio Venceremos'

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:07:07 PDT

Atilio Vasquez Diaz, un ex-combatiente y miembro del equipo del Radio Venceremos habla de las difficultades de muchos integrantes de la guerilla, para incorpoarse en la vida civil, despues de la firma de los Acuerdos de Paz, 1992. Muchos que se integraron con la guerilla como muy jovenes, campesinos analfabetos (aunque apprendieron en la guerilla) no tenian los habilidades para entrar con facilidad en la vida civil. Atilio fue a Mexico para apprender el manejo de film y video, pero no era facil a accostombrarse a una vida muy differente.

Popout

Original audio source (AtilioVenceremos128.mp3)

Radio Venceremos 20 anos despues - entrevista con Santiago

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:25:02 PDT

(Spanish/Espanol)

El 'Santiago' (Carlos Enrique Consalvi) ... uno de las personas claves en el desarollo del radio guerillero "Venceremos" - habla sobre los medios de communicacion populares y alternativas en El Salvador 20 anos despues. Ahora trabaja en el Museo de Palabra y Imagenes como otro medio de mantener la memoria de las luchas populares. Y hace su proprio commentario sobre los medios de communicacion en El Salvador de hoy.

(Santiago - as he is still known - was one of the key people in the development of the FMLN's guerilla Radio Venceremos. He now manages the Museum of Word and Image, which is building an archive of the popular struggle in El Salvador, so that those histories are not lost. He talks with Australian community radio about the role of alternative media in El Salvador today).

Popout

Original audio source (Santiago128.mp3)

SINPESS - Sindicato de Periodistas Salvadorenos. (Salvadoran Journalist Union)

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:05:10 PDT

(Espanol)

Entrevista con tres integrantes del sindicato de Periodistas Salvadorenos 'SINPESS'. Ivan Escobar, Daniel Trujillo, y Emilia. Trabajan con el Periodico independiente, 'Diario Co-Latino' pero el sindicato incluye muchos periodistas de los otros medios, y defendien los derechos de libertad de expresion de periodistas, y ademas derechos laborales. Muchos periodistas y trabajadores y trabajadoras Salvadorenos son graduados de cursos Universitarios Salvadorenos. Para asegurar una prensa mas libre, se necessitan estos graduados de carerra un sindicato fuerte, y que el periodismo no sea dominado por gestiones de lucre. Hay esperanzas de que el nuevo gobierno puede facilitar el trabajo del sindicato.

Popout

Original audio source (CoLatSINPRESS128.mp3)

Entrevista con Jorge Jimenez - Diputado del FMLN

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:09:41 PDT

Jorge Jimenez, diputado electo a la Asamblea Nacional de El Salvador esta encargado con la reforma electoral, para prevenir elecciones futuras intentados de fraude, y para incrementar la transparencia del proceso democratico. Tambien habla de los problemas anticipado, y la trayectoria del FMLN despues 1ero de Junio. Aclara la posicion del FMLN sobre gestiones tan importantes como la impunidad (La ley de Amnistia) y justicia para las victimas de la violaciones de sus derechos humanos.

(Jorge Jimenez is one of the newly elected representatives of the FMLN to the Legislative Assembly, and has been given the responsibility for Electoral Reform - much needed after the attempts by the governing party to alter the results reflecting the popular will. He outlines measures to make the electoral process, and democratic processes more transparent. He also takes time to indicate some of the problems the new government will be encountering, the direction the FMLN is likely to take, and the position of the party on important issues like 'impunity' for human rights abuses that have occurred in the past, stressing the importance of justice and compensation for the victims over the need to punish the perpetrators.)

Popout

Original audio source (JorgeJiminezFMLN128.mp3)

Salvadoran Journalists - English voiceover

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:57:06 PDT

Journalism - Salvadoran style

Tough biddies (still sparking strong) and young enthusiasts are out there doing tough journalism in a tough country. There's gonzo, and there is survivalist in the world of journalism. There are broadsheets and pamphlets in El Salvador, but we are talking to journalists the more mature ones who have survived journalism in a civil war, and others, from the younger generation who see the point.

El Diario Co-Latino is the end product of a newspaper that has been bombed, bankrupted, set on fire, and generally persecuted. It has also been the training ground for young journalists who are not prepared to sell out to financial interests; graduates from the National University of El Salvador, who refuse to recognise neo-liberal ideology.

This is an important role for El Diario Co-Latino. There are over 50 'private' universities in San Salvador most of them springing up in the last twenty years of ARENA government. On their boards and councils, sit former military officers. - a retirement break for US accredited generals and colonels who have been afforded 'impunity' for their role in gross human rights violations.

It remains to be seen if the new government can reconstruct the neoliberal 'plantation', or whether the Universities can still continue to generate a critical, committed, and honest journalism. This is one of the constant topics of debate in the ranks of the FMLN, as everyone waits to see what will result from the new government after June 1.

Popout

Original audio source (ColatinoHISTORY.mp3)

Peeriodistas en la lucha Salvadoreno - Diario Co-Latino

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:35:29 PDT

(Español)

Periodistas del Diario Co-Latino hablan de lost intentos de reprimir o destruirlo en las decadas pasadas. Victima de incendios (dos veces) bombas, y bancarrota, sobrevivio por los esfuerzos y el sentido de comprimiso de los trabajadores y periodistas, quienes, a veces trabajaron sin sueldo y durmieron en el piso del edificio, que hasta esta dia, parece una granja. Emilia Piñeda y Ivan Escobar cuentan las experiencias.

(English voiceover to follow - The independent daily newspaper El Diario Co-Latino has a history that goes back over 100 years. In the last half century it has been burned down twice, bombed once and gone bankrupt twice. It has survived through the support of its readers and the commitment of the print workers and journalists who at times worked without pay to keep the paper solvent, often sleeping on the floor of the building, which to this day, looks like a huge barn.)

Popout

Original audio source (CoLatino128.mp3)

Life as a Salvadoran wharf laborer - English Voiceover

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:43:07 PDT

(Shortened interview with English voice-over by Warwick Fry)

(Note: This is a stereo recording with the English voice-over in the right hand channel. If the Spanish language background is too loud or distracting it can be faded down by turning up the right channel and fading down the left channel. Spanish speakers might want to do the opposite)

Meeting Gregorio from the Salvadoran Dockworkers Union (STIPES) was an unforgettable experience. Gregorio quietly and matter of factly exposes the Dickensian conditions imposed on Salvadoran wharf laborers since a military intervention in 2001 - supposedly to improve Port security after September 11 in New York, but in reality to break up the 40 year old dockworkers Union and force the wharf workers to work under a 'contract' system that yields them at best US$36 a month. Gregorio's account is a quietly understated expose of the true nature of the ARENA government that has run El Salvador for the last 20 years. Gregorio is cautiously optimistic that the new government which comes into power on June 1st might offer some change in the horrendous working conditions of these men.

Popout

Original audio source

La Vida de un Trabajador Portuario Salvadoreno - Espanol (Spanish)

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:42:47 PDT

Entrevista con Gregorio, Secretaria General del STIPES. Gregorio cuenta las condiciones de trabajo inhumanos, impuesto por el Gobierno de ARENA desde una intervencion militar en Enero 2001, sobre los trabajadores Portuarios de Acajutla.

Popout

Original audio source

Sounds of a Salvadoran Election - Red Sunday: March 15 2009

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:31:13 PDT

An eyewitness account of election day in San Salvador. As an accredited international observer Warwick Fry spent 15 hours at a voting centre recording his impressions, then followed the massive 6 hour street party that erupted as the results were announced, declaring a convincing FMLN victory.

Popout

Original audio source

27.1 Mb. 128kbps stereo 30mins.

El Salvador - Post election review from CISPES

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:25:34 PDT

North American Nestor, and Australian Nick Everett recall Sunday March 15 2009, the sweeping FMLN electoral victory (in spite of attempts at fraud) and their experience as international observers of the tense ballot. They assess what this significant and historic result could mean for El Salvador, both regionally, and internationally.

Popout

Original audio source

More Australians in El Salvador - Ovidio Orellanos

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:04:43 PDT

The day before the elections a group of Australian volunteers met at one of the FMLN headquarters to prepare themselves for their role of international mobservers. Many of them were Salvadorans who had been forced to emigrate to Australia as political refugees, in the 1980s. They were keen to be present at a time when the ARENA `party, founded by the people responsible for their forced exile had to face an electoral defeat.

Ovidio Orellanos is a Guatemalan by birth. The death squads of El Salvador modelled themselves on a similar movement in Guatemala, called ¨The White Hand¨. Ovidio tells us what these elections mean to him.

Popout

Original audio source

Australians in El Salvador - Juan Campos

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:05:49 PDT

Juan Campos is a Salvadoran who spent two years in prison and was tortured in the early 1980s. He was rescued by Australia´s special humanitarian program and has lived in Australia ever since. Juan was one of the 15 Australian´s who came to El Salvador to observe the critical Presidential elections. He explains to community radio what these elections mean to Salvadorans, and people like himself.

Popout

Original audio source

La Impunidad y el Gobierno Salvadoreno - Martin

ratbagradio@gmail.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:06:32 PDT

Enrevista entera con Martin de la CSTS (Confederacion Syndical de Trabajadores Salvadorenos). Martin explica la politica del nuevo gobierno FMLNista sobre cambios en la ley de Amnistia por violaciones de derechos humanos.

Popout

Original audio source