Radio Beijing (Tiananmen Protests): June 4, 1989

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IC-R71A.jpg

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording and notes:

During the Tiananmen Protests in 1989, a courageous announcer at Radio Beijing went on the air with the following announcement:

“This is Radio Beijing. Please remember June the third, 1989. The most tragic event happened in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Thousands of people, most of them innocent civilians, were killed by fully armed soldiers when they forced their way into the city. Among the killed are our colleagues at Radio Beijing. The soldiers were riding on armored vehicles and used machine guns against thousands of local residents and students who tried to block their way. When the army convoys made a breakthrough, soldiers continued to spray their bullets indiscriminately at crowds in the street. Eyewitnesses say some armored vehicles [inaudible] foot soldiers who hesitated in front of the resisting civilians. Radio Beijing’s English department deeply mourns those who died in a tragic incident and appeals to all its listeners to join our protest for the gross violations of human rights and the most barbarous suppression of the people. Because of the abnormal situation here in Beijing, there is no other news that we could bring you. We sincerely ask for your understanding and thank you for joining us at this most tragic moment.”

The above announcement was followed by a regular newscast.

According to some sources, the announcer was apprehended by the authorities almost immediately and detained for several years where he was separated from his family and underwent extended reeducation campaign.

Broadcaster: Radio Beijing

Date of recording: 6/4/1989

Starting time: 0400 UTC

Frequency: 11695 kHz

Reception location: Minnetonka, MN

Receiver and antenna: ICOM R71A

Radio Austria International (Romania Revolution Special Broadcast): 1990

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Romania Revolution.jpg

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tim Harrold, who shares the following recording and notes:

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Romanian Revolution, a recording of "Austrian Shortwave Panorama", Radio Austria International's weekly DX programme presented by David Hermges. This was a special edition broadcast a few days after Romania's 1989 revolution originally broadcast on 31st December 1989 (although this recording is of a repeat from sometime in 1990). Contains off-air recordings of Radio Bucharest and Radio Free Europe (in English, Romanian and other languages) recounting the events of the revolution. (Sent via The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive)

Frequency: 13.730 MHz

Reception location: Birmingham, UK

Receiver and antenna: Toshiba portable, telescopic antenna

BBC World Service (20th Anniversary of Apollo 11): July 20, 1989

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Apollo 11 Eagle (Image Source: NASA)

Apollo 11 Eagle (Image Source: NASA)

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tom Laskoski, who shares the following recording and notes:

I thought this might be an appropriate file to upload considering we are about to mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. I recorded this program thirty years ago on July 20, 1989, the 20th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Omnibus takes a look back at the historic Apollo mission and how and why it happened. Another SWRAA program on Apollo 11 from VOA can be found at https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/voice-of-america-july-20-1979?rq=apollo

Starting time: about 0400 UTC

Frequency: 5.975 MHz

Location: South Bend, IN

Receiver: Sony ICF-2001

Radio Bucharest: December 31, 1989 (Romanian Revolution)

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By Denoel Paris and other photographers [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Denoel Paris and other photographers [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Jack Widner, who shares the following off-air recording and notes:

Radio Bucharest, Romania, on Shortwave New Year's Eve 1989.  The beginning is missing.   Frequency not logged but was probably 6155 or 11830, time 0200 UTC.
The Ceausescu regime had finally been toppled and executed outside the capital Bucharest.  These were heady times; Romania was one of the last of the "Iron curtain" countries to change its Communist government.
But now Ceausescu is out and Romania has its first taste of fresh air.  This program reflects that new-found liberalisation.  The announcer at 0102 says "FREE Romania" and at 01:12 - 02:33 the American Ambassador Alan Green Jr sends greetings from President GHWB.  After that, the majority of the program is traditional music and celebrations of Romanian new year.  The two announcers are full of national pride!
There is a slight gap at 11:19 - 11:23.  Frequency and contact information are at the end of the program, 25:15.
The picture of Bucharest is the cover of a verification card from 1967 in my possession.
Heard in Pennsylvania, December 1989.

Death of Emperor Hirohito (7 Jan.1989)

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*Date calculated by East Australian Time.

01.Radio Japan- January 7, 1989- 07.50GMT- 15270khz
02.Radio Japan- January 7, 1989- 09.10GMT- 11885khz
03.Radio Japan- January 7, 1989- music, news
04.Radio Japan-funeral, news, comment (Feb 24, 1989)

Recorded off-air by Ian Holder, Brisbane, Australia.

Other broadcasts on this topic-

https://archive.org/details/DeathFuneralOfHirohito1989