Transmitter of Jewish community radio station damaged

Reporters Without Borders today condemned an attempt to destroy the transmitter of a Jewish radio station in Marseilles, RJM, and said it was concerned about rise in attacks on community media in France. The station's 54-metre high antenna, on a hill above the city, fell on 30 December after someone detached one of the stays supporting it. Transmission was not restored until the next day. The head of the station, Jean-Jacques Zenou, said he was "very worried" about the incident, noting that in autumn 2001, one of the station's electric cables had been cut. The radio, which also broadcasts programmes by the local Armenian and Corsican communities, is known for its open-spiritedness and makes programmes jointly with a North African community station, Radio Gazelle. The windows and main door of the Paris community station Radio Méditerranée were smashed by thugs on the night of 6 December last.