In Indonesia, the Sound of Hope Radio Network—known as SOH—is receiving support from the international community. It’s been facing mounting pressure from the Chinese communist regime to shut down its operation. Sound of Hope acts as a watchdog of the Chinese regime, covering human rights and political issues such as the persecution of democracy activists, Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners.

Sound of Hope Radio, known as Radio Era Baru in Indonesia, says it’s been targeted by the Indonesian government because of pressure from the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta. The Embassy claims Sound of Hope is broadcasting political propaganda—a label the Chinese regime often slaps on media that are critical of its policies.

Sound of Hope representatives held a meeting with the Indonesian government’s Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Center last week. The Center wrote a letter to Sound of Hope asking it to stop broadcasting because it mainly broadcasts programs in Mandarin. But Sound of Hope says it intends to continue the broadcast.

The matter has brought widespread attention and support from the international community including Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation of Journalists and the European Union Parliament.

[Megi Margiyono, Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists]:
“International organizations asked about this matter, including Reporters Without Borders and a journalist organization in France, also several organizations related to international freedom of speech and expression. This shows that it’s not a local issue, and not [just] a national issue. This shows that Indonesian government, in this regard—the Communication and Information Department—needs to consider that.”

Sound of Hope Indonesian director Raymond Tan says the international support reflects his radio station’s independence.

[Raymond Tan, Director, SOH Radio, Indonesia]:
“We received seven statements of support from a member of European Parliament, and the vice president of European Parliament. I feel that Western people, particularly the members of the EU, appreciate human rights and widely support press freedom. Even though some of Sound of Hope Radio’s broadcasting is in Mandarin, we are not a radio station that can be dictated to by the [Chinese government]… So [the EU] sees us as independent."

Sound of Hope Radio is continuing to broadcast while waiting for a final decision from Indonesia’s Supreme Court regarding its license.

NTD News, Jakarta, Indonesia.