Transistor Radios In Latin Politics

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 6

Transistor Radios In Latin Politics

(N.Z. Press Association—Copprtpkt)

HAVANA. Portable transistor radios, powered by easily-obtained flashlight batteries, are becoming a key factor in Latin politics, according to leading radio and television executives in Panama. Their role is to bring politicians’ messages, appeals, and. upon occasion, speeches to hundreds of thousands of peasants in the Isolated country places who have never before had any form of direct communication with the politieally-active cities The core of the role played by these transistor radios in bringing about this change is the common flash, light batteries on which sb many of the sets operate. The humblest country stores stock them, alond with candles and kerosene —the only reliable sources of light and power for these countryfolk who live tar beyond the end of the last power line. A recent survey showed that one-third of the population of Latin America comes into this category. Before the advent of transistor radio sets, these people had virtually no means of keeping up with the news.

Newspapers and magazines never reached deep into the countryside. Even if they did. the chances were that the peasants could not read them.

There was no electricity from which to run standard radio sets, and the old-style battery sets were too cumbersome and costly. Estimate of Listeners

There is no reliable estl. mate of how many listeners can be reckoned for each radio set out in these remote areas. But Latin American radio executives are convinced that the figure is well above listeners-per-set figures for cities and towns, vhere other distractions are available. Panama’s import figures reflect the impact of the arrival on the market of these conveniently-carried transistor sets.

Before 1955, some 17.000 radio sets were imported. In 1960, the figure was 50.000.

Panama has no radio manufacturing or assembling industry of its own. It is not suggested that all. or even a majority, of the transistor sets go to the countryside: but a sufficient propytion of them go to the rural*peasants to bring them right into the picture for political propaganda. No Latin American politl. cian, of whatever persuasion, is ignorant of the degree to which the Cuban Prime Minister 'Dr. Fidel Castro)

owes his success to the unquestioning support of the Cuban peasants, or guajiros. Nor do Latin Americans underestimate the part which Dr. Castro's radio oratory plays in retaining their support. Groups In Villages A four and five-hour speech, ramblingly repetitive. may test a city listener’s patience and endurance to the point that he switches off. Not so the groups gathered round the radio in the villages. They listen to the last syllable. What to the city sophisticate is intolerable repetition of a self-evident point is to the villagers an understanding explanation, pitched to their simple level. The peasants are used to Latin revoluiions: but in the past they have been like cheap troops who can be bought for a bag of rice and who ask no questions as to the issues at stake. Dr. Castro is the first Latin leader since the Mexican revolution to con. vinee the folk in the countryside that his revolution is of the guajiros. by the guajiros and for the guajiros. The radio is the Instrument bv which he has convinced them.

Conservative radio executives in Panama recognising this phenomenon. take comfort from one fact: the transistor radio sets in Panama’s rural areas do not pick up Castro's propaganda broadcasts from Cuba, or propaganda beamed from Communist sources. A survey showed that only .2 per cent, of the radios in the entire country are tuned to a foreign station at any given time. This survey Included the cities, where the well-to-do can afford big. short-wave receivers.

Thus. In the transistor battle tor the minds of the c*untry folk, the anti-Castro and anti-Communist forces in Panama feel that they have a head start—but one which they will have to work skilfully to maintain.