Freedom of information...Only Internet stands along :(
Kurdish TV channel attacks
closure order
Med-TV broadcasts Kurdish language programmes across Europe
London-based Kurdish satellite channel Med-TV has
condemned the decision by the UK's Independent
Television Commission to revoke its broadcasting
licence.
The ITC's action followed complaints by Turkey that
armed guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
had used the station to issue calls for attacks against
Turkey after the capture of guerilla leader Abdullah
Ocalan in February.
A wave of violence swept
Turkey, and demonstrations
took place across Europe, in
the wake of the capture.
The ITC, which regulates all
commercial TV stations in
the UK, said it was not in the
public interest to have any
broadcaster use the UK as a
platform for broadcasts which
incite people to violence.
Med-TV said it was
"outraged" by 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."
It added: "We can reassure the Kurdish people that we
will be back on air before long."
It is the first time the ITC has
revoked a TV station's licence.
The ITC had already issued a series
of warnings to Med-TV over its
breach of broadcasting impartiality
codes.
Last month it temporarily suspended the station's
broadcasts following transmissions which it said were
likely to encourage crime or disorder.
Now it has gone a step further and, although the order
will not formally take effect for 28 days, the station will
not be allowed to resume broadcasts during this period.
ITC Chairman Sir Robin
Biggam said that while the
commission had taken
"sympathetic" account of the
circumstances in which the
offending broadcasts had
been made, the ITC had
decided to revoke the
station's licence "in the
public interest".
Med-TV now has a number of
options. It could try to get a
licence granted in another
country, it could try to
struggle on using satellite feeds booked by the hour,
which appear to fall outside any UK licensing
regulations, it could make more use of the Internet, and
it could set up a different TV channel in the UK or
elsewhere.
Mr Ocalan faces a trial for treason for orchestrating a
14-year armed campaign for Kurdish self-rule in the
south east of Turkey in which more than 29,000 people
have died. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
news.bbc.co.uk
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