Sawt al-Arab [Voice of the Arabs] is an Egyptian radio station broadcasting from Cairo on the frequency 621 Hz. It was established in July 4, 1953 and played a prominent role in the liberation of Northern and Eastern Africa as well as Southern Yemen. The July Revolution used the station to call for supporting the Arab strugglers and advocates of Arab nationalism as well as for fighting against so-called reactionaries. Sawt al-Arab was the voice of Arab strugglers in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. It broadcast coded messages to the National Liberation Front of Algeria, the Palestinian resistance and liberation fronts in Africa. France tried to muzzle the station by distributing among the Algerians free radios that did not receive "Sawt al-Arab". Sawt al-Arab took part in the liberation and independence of the Arab Gulf States. Covering the Arab events for more than half a century, Sawt al-Arab used to be described by its supporters as Arab strugglers' voice, the media fortress of Arabism, and the defender of Arab issues. The station was known for its support to late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and his goals (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
Finally, the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel started its tests to broadcast its programs via radio waves 954. Al-Jazeera decided to cover the Middle East to influence the Arab street through its TV channel and radio station. Al-Jazeera's professional officials have carefully studied the Egyptian street and know that 31 percent of all Egyptians listen to the radio in their cars while being stuck in a traffic jam and that radio is a major source of news in Egypt's remote areas.
However, Egyptian radios' officials pay no attention to Egyptians' desires and broadcast silly programs. Compared to Sawt al-Arab, Al-Jazeera does not enjoy even 1% of Arabs' love, does not have the same experience and efficiency of this radio station which broadcast leaders' speeches and the announcements of revolutions. It is no exaggeration to say that Sawt al-Arab can launch "Sawt al-Arab documentary station" a la "Al-Jazeera documentary TV channel". Indeed, Al-Jazeera feeds on wastes of Egyptian documentaries.
Leaving the arena to Al-Jazeera radio station reminds us of what was happening when Al-Jazeera TV channel was launched (the same circumstances and collusions) and I'm sure that tapes and cadres of Egyptian radios started to leak one after the other to Al-Jazeera radio. Some of Sawt al-Arab's cadres - I know some of them personally – can do the impossible to prevent the expansion of Al-Jazeera radio among th Arab people. Those cadres speak foreign languages, are well-experienced, professional and fighters, but, unfortunately, they have never been given the chance to express themselves and to catch up with satellite radios on FM.
Strangely enough, Sawt al-Arab does not have the right to broadcast on FM although some less privileged radios have that right. In addition, it does not broadcast electronically like other online radios such as Al-Jazeera and the BBC. Sawt al-Arab does not exist even in Egypt.
