Public Relations and Culture

 

 

Visit to the Community Radio Center (CRC) and live radio interview

 

 

　On 27th May, upon invitation from the CRC in Dili, Ambassador Kitahara visited the CRC. Responding to the on-site request from the CRC staff to join the on-air program, he answered an interview from the newscaster. In the live program, he answered the questions on Japanese assistance to Timor-Leste, his impression of Timor-Leste since his arrival until now, his passion for Timor-Leste, etc.

 

　Ambassador Kitahara first talked to the listeners in Tetum, the local language, and then talked about Japanese people’s passion for Timor-Leste and the people of Timor-Leste in English. Interview was broadcast on live in Dili for about 5 minutes.

 

　At the Community Radio Center, we learnt a lot of episodes including pains and joys during the radio program production using a limited range of equipments. There were many people enthusiastically working on the program production and broadcasting, including volunteers. We saw their strong passion for radio program in joyful and lively eyes of the radio program production staff.

 

　They also told us about the episode that they received so many calls from many places saying “when does the program resume?” “I cannot wait,” when they could not broadcast the program for a while due to the equipment failure.

 

　The Embassy, with the cooperation from the Community Radio Center, created the PR radio program “Bridge to Japan” introducing Japanese culture and assistance to Timorese listeners and had it broadcast from March to April this year at Community Radio Stations in all 13 districts in Timor-Leste. In the said program Ambassador Kitahara not only answered the interview but also performed in a loud voice “Katami-bushi,” Yaeyama folk song, which is a Uta-Sanshin (song performed with traditional guitar) of Okinawa. During this visit, Ambassador also had a chance to have communication with district community radio station staff who were just visiting Dili at that time.

 

　At the CRC, we received a strong request to continue to produce and broadcast “Bridge to Japan” which had a very good response from listeners. We will make our best efforts in supporting the CRC, taking into consideration the big role that the CRC is playing in Timor-Leste.

 

　Established in 2002 with support from World Bank’s Community Empowerment Project (CEP). Even after 2004 when the support finished, CRC actively continues its broadcasting activities up until now. The Government of Japan, through United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), had provided the Grass-Roots Grant Assistance of up to 91,850 USD to the project for approx 8,000 radio provision. At present Community Radio is seen as attaining the highest penetration rate to rural areas among other Timorese media.

 

 

 

 

Ambassador Kitahara answering the interview at the radio studio

 

 

With Mr. Luis Soares, the Director of the Community Radio Center.

In front of the wall with the message that the Ambassador wrote upon request from Mr. Soares.

 

 

With the members of CRC

 

（End）

 

 

(c) Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste　　Avenida de Portugal, Pantai Kelapa, Dili, Timor-Leste (P.O. Box 175) Tel: +670-3323131 Fax: +670-3323130