[PEN-L:6198] Revocation of MED TV's broadcast licence: the Kurds, Turkey, the UK, & NATO

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

*****  Revocation of MED TV's broadcast licence

PRESS RELEASE 23 APRIL 1999

MED-TV is outraged at the decision by the Independent Television Commission
to revoke its licence. Both in written representations and in the hearing
before the Commissioners on 9 April, MED-TV set out a detailed programme
and news restructure for the future which should have satisfied the
Commision. MED-TV had already been punished by being suspended for the last
26 days. To revoke the licence is a draconian and disproportionate sanction
and we are taking legal advice about challenging the decision. The decision
is undoubtedly political and MED-TV fears the decision is inspired by the
UK government's relationship with Turkey, its NATO ally, particularly at
the present time. Already the Turkish Prime Minister is taking credit for
the decision. Only the Turkish state will rejoice at this decision which is
contrary to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
guaranteeing freedom of expression. We can reassure the Kurdish people that
we will be back on air before long.
http://www.med-tv.be/med/  *****

*****  The Guardian, Wednesday April 28 1999

'Hypocracy' protest at BAe meeting

Campaigners against selling arms to repressive regimes are planning a
vociferous shareholders' protest at the annual general meeting of British
Aerospace today amid claims that one director, Sir Robin Biggam, has a
serious conflict of interest in his role as chairman of the Independent
Television Commission.

Last week Sir Robin announced that the ITC was revoking the licence of the
Kurdish satellite television station MED-TV for repeatedly flouting the
regulations on incitement to violence and impartiality by sympathising with
Turkey's Kurdish sepratists.

At the same time BAe is about to start up licenced production in Turkey of
assault rifles and grenade launchers for the security forces whose
reputation for human rights abuses have been repeatedly documented.

MED-TV broadcasts to Europe, north Africa and the middle east. It has had
three warnings and fines of £90,000.

Rachel Harford of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade said yesterday: "It
is hypocracy for Sir Robin to accuse MED-TV of incitement to violence when
he is a director of a company selling arms to a security force which
tortures
and kills its own people."

Neither the ITC nor BAe would comment.

David Pallister  *****