Sixty-ninth edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2004 21:58:35 +0100)

2003 clandestine activity survey

The activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting on shortwave has remained almost unchanged from one year ago and is now at 1718 Weekly Broadcasting Hours (WBHs), down 14 WBHs from the previous year.

Clandestine activity to target areas on the Asian continent has increased by 8% to 1415 WBHs. On the African continent activity has dropped by 48%to 125 WBHs. Activity to America and Oceania has remained unchanged at 162 and 16 WBHs respectively.

The number of active target areas (countries) worldwide has decreased by one to 21. When compared to one year ago, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, South Korea and Somalia are no longer active, while Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Uganda are new or reactivated target areas.

The three most active target areas worldwide are Iraq with 748 WBHs (+252 when compared with one year ago - the highest activity to a single target area since this survey was started back in 1986), North Korea with 217 WBHs (unchanged) and Afghanistan with 189 WBHs (+52).

End of press release