Kosovo Crisis: Reclaim (E)XFM
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ed981015.qxd 25/11/98 21:37 Page 1 (1,1) Issue 944 - Weekly Thursday October 15 1998 Demonstrators Gather To Kosovo Crisis: Reclaim (e)XFM On Saturday 10th October, They think its all over... Leicester Square was the venue for the first rally against the new Capital Radio owned XFM. Gathering just outside Capital Radio’s building the 300 strong crowd, the majority under 25, chanted slogans, sang newly writ- ten protest songs, and waved banners in response to the radical changes that have recently been imple- mented at the station once calling itself “London’s Only Alternative”. At the end of the demonstration newly signed indie band The Llama Farmers delivered a petition with protest organisers to Capital. The Bilateral meeting between US Special Envoy, Mr. Richard Holbrooke (left) and NATO Secretary General, Dr. Javier Solana (right), at NATO HQ Brussels, concerning the situation in Kosovo. large police presence did not interfere, except to request less swearing in the chants (result- Photo courtesy of Nato photos ing in Bob Geldof being described as a “banker” a “tanker” and an “anchor”). The demonstration The World press is currently reporting on by Tom Sherwen came about as part the agreement to end the Kosovo crisis of a possibly long worked out between US Ambassador negotiating table. This risked the build up running campaign Designate to the United Nations, Richard of a reputation similar to that of the UN who to return XFM back Holbrooke and Yugoslav President have repeatedly issued empty threats to to the audience it Slobodan Milosevic. Holbrooke, having Milosevic. Nato must now be persuaded, by was intended for. spent endless hours negotiating with Milosevic, not to act otherwise the military Having finally been Milosevic over the Dayton Peace Accord, will go ahead with a strategic bombing cam- granted a license used to resolve the Bosnian crisis, has seem- paign of Serbian communications, air last year XFM ingly come up with the goods once again. defenses, and military stores. For Milosevic broadcast to to convince the negotiators to reverse the London and sur- It is however too early to rule out the use of Act Order he must guarantee four steps: rounding areas with military action by Nato. President withdraw his special forces from Kosovo, it’s unique style of Milosevic has once again given his word allow 2000 Nato implementation inspectors the DJs choosing although this time Nato have decided that into the area, allow the countless number of all the records they this does not represent a guarantee. Nato refugees, currently in hiding, back to their played and, even more crucially, playing new unsigned bands and those on small indepen- and Holbrooke have negotiated with the homes and guarantee the development of dent labels. Although consistently building on Yugoslav President enough to know that Kosovan autonomy. by Andrew Thomas listening figures month by month XFM was in words are often empty and promises broken. financial trouble and eventually was sold to Capital Radio a few months ago. Although It was therefore decided by the Nato coun- If these conditions are not adhered to then Capital promised that nothing would change, soon after the take-over most of the DJs were tries to go ahead with the next stage in a mil- the attack will go ahead. The Nato decision replaced and a playlist was installed, effectively banning DJ choice in what was played and itary build up. Nato had already informed is without the backing of the UN and in par- closing the doors on bands without large record deals. its military that it should be prepared to act ticular is strongly opposed by Russia. and on Monday night it moved on to stage The public figure leading two; that of ordering the military to go Russia has a strong historical link with the the “new” XFM is Bob ahead with the attack. This order was Serbs and does not believe that Nato should Geldof, who by his own accepted with the proviso that all action was attack. Kosovo is an internal province of an admission is out of touch on hold for 96 hours. Negotiations are independent country and the crisis is there- and a hopeless DJ. This therefore continuing throughout the week in fore regarded by opponents to the military demonstration is expected to an attempt to convince Nato member coun- solution an internal matter. Nato felt that be the first of many. tries that Milosevic is sincere about his any request to the UN, the proper channel intentions. with which to formulate this type of policy, On Tuesday October 13th would be immediately blocked by Russia. the Radio Authority fined The order to go ahead with an attack repre- Nato instead believed that the crisis gave Capital £4,000 for breach of sents the first time that Milosevic has been sufficient basis to, and merited making a their license agreement. given a definite time frame within which to decision independently of the UN. This action is considered to negotiate. The change has taken away the be not nearly enough by decision by Nato of whether to use military Milosevic must now honour his commitments most campaigners. force or persist in plugging away at the by Friday if air strikes are to be averted. News 1/2 n Letters 2 n Union 3 n Features n Music 5/6 n Entertainments Guide 7 . Advice 8 n Notices & Personals & Crossword 9 n Reviews 10 n Surrey Pride 11/12 ed981015.qxd 25/11/98 21:37 Page 2 (1,1) 2 News Thursday 15th October1998 n Editorial Letters News in Brief Dear Editor £2800,000 For Rushdie’s Head I have just heard on Like many others, I was shocked to hear that Alison The Iranian Government has recently relinquished it’s pursuit the news that 25 Limerick and Bandwere were cancelling their gig at the of Salman Rushdie’s murder. However a religious foundation English football hooli- Union this Friday simply because the drummer had been has just reiterated its commitment to the fatwa against the gans (I refuse to call hurt in a car crash. Surely Alison would be able to come writer of The Satanic Verses. It has backed up the pledge by them fans) have been along, sacrifice integrity, do a Personal Appearance, and adding another 300,000 to its existing £2.5 million bounty arrested and deported mime a few songs to a backing tape without the need of her “This increase is aimed at encouraging the carrying out of the for drunken behaviour drummer for the same entrance fee? fatwa,” said chief of the Khordad-15 Foundation, Ayatollah in Belgium, my home After all, it worked for Ultra Nate. Hassan Sanei. country. I cannot help L. The British author has been guarded night and day by Special but relate this to the Branch since 1989, when Muslim leaders declared his work recent criticism of blasphemous and demanded his death. Iran has officially football behaviour on Dear Editor, stopped sanctioning attempts on Rushdie’s life. However 150 the pitch as well as out of 270 Iranian MP’s have signed a petition supporting the off. In reply to Julia P's letter last week regarding "the terrible death threat. An extreme Muslim student group has also put up a £333,000 Tom Sherwen- Editor twosome" - I would like to point out that discrimination of any kind is a disciplinary offense in the Union building. At reward for the writers head. Frances D’Souzza, head of As agreed in issue 943 by both Jon-Paul Samuels, USFC each bar you will see a blue notice outlining exactly what I Article 19 the human right group leading the fight against the Vice-Chairman and Paul Cliff our very own Sports editor, mean. If anyone feels they have been treated unfairly in the fatwa said that no religious organisation could operate with- football seems to have a real problem at the moment. A lack Union, then they should report this to the nearest security out state permission. The foreign office issued a statement, saying that the of discipline on the pitch can only set the worst kind of exam- steward. If you would prefer to deal with a member of staff, Foundations announcement made no difference to Anglo- ple for the many loyal and even fanatical supporters of the you may speak to the House Officer on duty. You can also Iranian diplomatic relations. Salman Rushdie will discuss the financially dominated English teams. What I do not under- choose to speak to a sabbatical officer, myself or the gener- matter in a meeting Foreign Secretary Robin Cook shortly. stand is why the supporters remain so loyal or vocal. al manager. All problems of this nature are dealt with The Premier League has long since turned into a rich mans promptly and discreetly. To the "terrible twosome" I would club and the players salaries are generous in the extreme. say this - what is the funnier, somebody's sexuality, or being Public ‘misled over BSE’ Now even though I admit that I am not the greatest fan of banned from the union for the rest of the year? Sir Kenneth Calman, once Chief Medical Officer has told an football it would seem to be quite natural for a player earning inquiry into BSE that the truth about the disease was con- £20,000 a week to play their favourite sport that they might, Alan D. Roy cealed for 5 years. just might want to demonstrate to the outside world that they The ex government official said that it was not until 1995 that are worth it.