DATE=3/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247025
TITLE=BRITAIN / KURDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN HAS SUSPENDED THE LICENSE FOR A KURDISH LANGUAGE
SATELLITE T-V STATION HEADQUARTERED IN LONDON. MED-T-V
BROADCASTS NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE TO
KURDISH COMMUNITIES IN TURKEY AND THE REST OF EUROPE. TURKEY
BANS BROADCASTS IN KURDISH LANGUAGE INSIDE THE COUNTRY. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE HEAD OF THE
T-V COMPANY SAYS HE WILL APPEAL THE SUSPENSION.
TEXT: THE INDEPENDENT TELEVISION COMMISSION SAYS MED-T-V
OPERATIONS ARE SUSPENDED FOR 21 DAYS BECAUSE OF SEVERAL
BROADCASTS THE COMMISSION DEEMS LIKELY TO INCITE CRIME OR
DISORDER. THE COMMISSION HAD ALREADY WARNED THE T-V STATION LAST
NOVEMBER ITS LICENSE COULD BE REVOKED BECAUSE OF CONTROVERSIAL
REPORTS.
MED T-V LEGAL ADVISOR LOUIS CHARLAMBUS SAYS THE SUSPENSION ORDER
COMES AFTER MED T-V REPORTED ABOUT KURDISH PROTESTS IN EUROPE
OVER THE CAPTURE AND ARREST OF KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER ABDULLAH
OCALAN.
/// CHARLAMBUS ACT ///
THE INDEPENDENT TELEVISION COMMISSION'S CODE WAS NEVER
DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF AFFAIRS
WHICH MED T-V REPORTS ON. THE STATION HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT
TO BE THE ONLY UNCENSORED VOICE IN THE REGION. AND IN
GIVING VENT TO MULTIPLICITY OF KURDISH VOICES FROM ALL
PARTS OF KURDISTAN AND THE DISAPORA IN EUROPE AND
ELSEWHERE, INEVITABLY, THERE HAVE BEEN A RANGE OF
FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS FOLLOWING THE ABDUCTION OF
ABDULLAH OCALAN. THAT'S BEEN THE HEART OF THE CAUSE OF
THE SUSPENSION AT THE CURRENT TIMES.
/// END ACT ///
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED THE KURDISH-LANGUAGE T-V OF
INCITING VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE RECENT SERIES OF BOMB ATTACKS IN
ISTANBUL.
MED T-V MANAGING DIRECTOR HIKMET TABAK ACCUSES THE TURKISH
GOVERNMENT OF TRYING TO CLOSE IT DOWN.
/// TABAK ACT ///
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT TURKISH STATE HAS DONE ITS BEST TO
CLOSE OUR STATION DOWN. SO WE DECIDED FROM THE START WE
WILL CARE WHAT KURDISH PEOPLE WANT, WHAT OUR VIEWERS
WANT, NOT WHAT TURKISH STATE WANTS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. TABAK SAYS HIS LAWYERS HAVE FILED AN APPEAL WITH THE
LICENSING COMMISSION AND ARE CONFIDENT OF RENEWING THE T-V
LICENSE TO PUT MED T-V BACK ON THE AIR.
THE SATELLITE T-V WAS SET UP FOUR YEARS AGO IN LONDON WITH A
STUDIO IN BRUSSELS. IT BROADCASTS IN THREE KURDISH DIALECTS AND
ARABIC TO AN ESTIMATED 35-MILLION KURDS IN EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA,
AND THE MIDDLE EAST. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
23-Mar-99 9:28 AM EST (1428 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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