The State of Community Media and Community Radio in Timor-Leste
AMARC Asia-Pacific (2021), 10 pp.
There are two groups of community radio stations in Timor Leste. There are 8 “CEP'' stations established with World Bank assistance through the CEP (Timor-Leste Community Empowerment and Local Governance Project) programme, and 8 other “independent” stations which are the main focus of Internews support and which are grouped together in ARKTL, the Association of Community Radios of Timor Leste. The CEP stations have been equipped through World Bank financial support however this has created a structural problem since the equipment assets are technically government assets. The CEP stations have been receiving a subsidy of around 200 USD per month per station. Some stations offer a small production incentive to programme producers of around 15 USD per month. This would not be considered a wage but assists the stations to obtain and retain volunteer producers. Since the CEP programme has come to an end there is a concern about the sustainability of the CEP stations. The CEP stations were: Radio Café (Ermera), Radio Atoni Lifau (Oecusse), Radio Rai Husar (Aileu), Radio Ili-uai (Manatuto), Radio Cova Taroman (Suai), Radio Lian Matebian (Baucau), Radio Lian Tatamailau (Ainaro), Radio Boaventura 1912 (Same).
There are 8 “community radio” stations grouped together in ARKTL and supported by Internews and other donors. These include: Radio Comunidade Tokodede (RCL): Set up by UNESCO in May 2000 to serve the information and educational needs of the people of Lautem District; Radio Timor Kmanek (RTK): RTK was founded by the Catholic Church in 1994, and until recently was funded by Paix and Development, a Canadian NGO, by Radio Portugal until December 2000, and Caritas Australia; Radio Comunidade Maliana (RCM): RCM was set up with support from USAID and UNESCO and first went to air in April 2000; Radio Comunidade Tokodede (RCT): RCT first went to air in December 2001. It was set up by a former clandestine students group, the Grupo Juventude Liquica, with support from Usaid, Internews, and the Japanese mission; Radio Rakambia (Dili): Radio Rakambia were set up in 2001 with assistance from APHEDA. Until recently they were one of the strongest community radio stations in
Timor; Radio Viqueque(Viqueque): The Dutch-based NGO ‘Friends of Viqueque’ established this station, which began broadcasting in July this year after about four years set up period; Radio Falintil (Dili): Until 2000, Radio Falintil was a clandestine mobile broadcasting operation under Indonesian rule. USAID then funded the establishment of a permanent facility and again funded its move in 2002 with support from VOA; Radio Loricu Lian (Dili): Radio Loricu Lian was set up by Sahe Institute for Liberation, Yayasan Hak, Fokupers and the student group RENETIL in 2001, when they made a number of experimental mobile transmissions. Equipment was first installed at Loriku Lian in November 2003 with support from Association of Men Against Violence." (Pages 7-8)
There are 8 “community radio” stations grouped together in ARKTL and supported by Internews and other donors. These include: Radio Comunidade Tokodede (RCL): Set up by UNESCO in May 2000 to serve the information and educational needs of the people of Lautem District; Radio Timor Kmanek (RTK): RTK was founded by the Catholic Church in 1994, and until recently was funded by Paix and Development, a Canadian NGO, by Radio Portugal until December 2000, and Caritas Australia; Radio Comunidade Maliana (RCM): RCM was set up with support from USAID and UNESCO and first went to air in April 2000; Radio Comunidade Tokodede (RCT): RCT first went to air in December 2001. It was set up by a former clandestine students group, the Grupo Juventude Liquica, with support from Usaid, Internews, and the Japanese mission; Radio Rakambia (Dili): Radio Rakambia were set up in 2001 with assistance from APHEDA. Until recently they were one of the strongest community radio stations in
Timor; Radio Viqueque(Viqueque): The Dutch-based NGO ‘Friends of Viqueque’ established this station, which began broadcasting in July this year after about four years set up period; Radio Falintil (Dili): Until 2000, Radio Falintil was a clandestine mobile broadcasting operation under Indonesian rule. USAID then funded the establishment of a permanent facility and again funded its move in 2002 with support from VOA; Radio Loricu Lian (Dili): Radio Loricu Lian was set up by Sahe Institute for Liberation, Yayasan Hak, Fokupers and the student group RENETIL in 2001, when they made a number of experimental mobile transmissions. Equipment was first installed at Loriku Lian in November 2003 with support from Association of Men Against Violence." (Pages 7-8)
