Post-Soviet Media Law & Policy Newsletter
Issue 40-41
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law November 15,
1997
TURKEY
I. Paper opposed to TV broadcasts of centralized
sermons.
UNITED KINGDOM
I. Decoder agreement for UK terrestrial
digital TV.
ALGERIA
I. Algerian TV denies banning TF1 programmes.
NIGERIA
INDONESIA
SINGAPORE
TURKEY
I. Paper opposed to TV broadcasts of centralized
sermons.
State religion versus religious state! I believe that
is how the main idea behind the Religious Affairs Department’s recent project,
which has been described as “technological reform,” can be explained.
According to press reports, the system of centralized
religious sermons will be adopted in 1998. They will be broadcast by the
television networks. So, millions of Islamic people will follow the sermons
on big screens, which will be installed in 71,000 mosques in Turkey.
It seems that the state, which does not even trust its
own preachers, has decided to take action on religious affairs. It is convinced
that it will be able to establish law and order and place the mosques under
its control. The state’s official policies will be outlined to the entire
country on 71,000 screens through the centralized “remote-controlled education
and training system,” which will replace the current centralized but humanitarian
education system. The mosque communities will follow the sermons on television
screens just as they follow news bulletins and the programme known as “an
insight into the government’s achievements.” . . .
For example, if the presidential system is debated,
then those who prepare the uniform sermons will look for Koranic verses
on “Islam and stability in administration.” Furthermore, they will cite
passages from the records on the Prophet’s sayings and actions. Or, if
the eight-year education system is debated, they will use their sermons
to outline the state’s policy to the people. . . .
The state does not trust its citizens and its totalitarian
approach is limitless. Had it had the opportunity, it would have had gigantic
screens installed in every primary school classroom to have the students
lectured on the “sacred state” ideology for several hours every week. Had
it had the opportunity, it would have had television screens installed
in all the coffee shops in southeastern Anatolia to spread Turkish nationalism.
Believing that sermons are transmitted by satellites
to create an “official concept of Islam” and “uniform Islamic people” only
in secular countries will be very wrong. That is also a policy in the countries
that are under Islamic administrations. It must be noted that the religious
states are more merciless and totalitarian than their secular counterparts
because of their ideology. For example, the Iranian people have been informed
of their state policy through the Friday sermons that have been relayed
by the television stations since the Islamic revolution in Iran. They have
been forced to listen to the propaganda the preachers affiliated with the
ayatollahs’ party have delivered in their sermons to promote their party
programmes.
The people in all the countries in which shari’ah [Islamic]
laws are in effect are allowed to practise their religion only in accordance
with the way their state interprets it. Needless to say, all the mass media
organs are also required to comply with the “state religion.”
The people in a religious state based on the shari’ah
will suffer from totalitarian oppression. In view of that such a state
conflicts with democracy and human dignity.
The secular officials’decision to broadcast uniform
religious education for the students through television stations is, in
essence, no different from what Khomeyni has done in Iran. What difference
would it make if sermons are given by an Islamic fanatic, who wears a black
beard and a turban on his head, or by an official of the Religious Affairs
Department who wears a tie? What they will do is dictate the way the people
should fulfil the religious requirements. Both are equally
despotic and totalitarian.
‘Yeni Yuzyil’, Istanbul, October 16, 1997
UNITED KINGDOM
I. Decoder agreement for UK terrestrial digital
TV.
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasters
today, Tuesday 4th November, announced their agreed specification for the
decoder technology which will enable viewers to receive around 30 digital
terrestrial television channels on existing televisions and rooftop aerials.
The decision by members of the Digital Multiplex Group
(DMUX)—comprising all the main terrestrial broadcasters--was welcomed by
British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) who immediately announced plans to get
set-top boxes, using the decoder specification, in the shops in time for
DTT’s launch. The decision should also encourage TV manufacturers to develop
sets with the technology built in.
The agreed specification will enable viewers to receive
free-to-air digital transmissions, from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel
5 and S4C who are all planning to produce new channels and services for
the new platform next year, plus subscription services from the UK’s leading
broadcasters via BDB. There will be no need for a dish or a cable connection.
Charles Evans, the BBC’s Digital Services Project Director
and co-chairman of the Digital Multiplex Group (DMUX), said: “Broadcasters
have been working very hard to ensure an industry-wide specification. This
is a major development in television which will enable viewers to enjoy
new programming with regional variations, as well as the other benefits
such as CD quality sound, widescreen format and enhanced Ceefax and Teletext.”
John Egan, Director of Operations at BDB and co-chairman
of DMUX added:
“BDB is delighted with the progress which we and the
DMUX Group has made. This announcement puts us on track to bring multi-channel
television to people’s homes through existing aerials and televisions.”
The specifications will enable manufacturers to take
up the challenge of digital broadcasting in the knowledge their products
will be supported by the industry.
Professor David Youlton, CEO of the Snell and Wilcox
Group who is Chairman of the Digital Television Group (DTG) which represents
manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and broadcaster, said: “The agreement
of this standard represents another milestone on the road to digital television.
I look forward to further benefits of a close working relationship between
the DTG and The DMUX Group, jointly promoting the UK as the pioneer of
digital television.”
Digital Multiplex Group press release, London, November 4, 1997
ALGERIA
I. Algerian TV denies banning TF1 programmes.
At the time when Algeria marks the horrible massacre
perpetrated [against its people] on French territory [according to recent
reports, as many as 200 Algerians might have been killed by French police
in Paris on 17th October] at the time French official reports spoke of
three dead only], the French [commercial] TV channel TF1 has accused Algerian
television of allegedly preventing it from broadcasting a programme from
Algeria.
Those who know the regulations concerning exchanges
between international TV channels—among them the managers of TF1—know very
well that reports come under clear administrative and technical regulations.
The report, which, TF1 alleged, Algerian TV refused
to broadcast did not meet a number of [administrative and technical] regulations
and this is why it was blocked.
Algerian TV management confirmed that it only applied
existing international regulations. The cause of the dispute was that the
French TV channel wanted a preferential treatment. This was a request from
people who have not yet accepted the reality of an independent Algeria.
The proof of this is that a number of foreign TV channels,
such as the British channel WTN, the Lebanese channel LBC and the UAE Dubai
TV channel, broadcast, only yesterday, their programmes via Algerian TV
technical equipment without any problem because they simply fulfilled the
necessary requirements.
Algerian TV, which is getting ready to mark the 28th
anniversary, on 28th October, of regaining its sovereignty over this strategic
national institution from the French occupants, does not care about this
campaign which hides more than a normal protest about not being able to
broadcast a programme.
With independence and without a complex, Algerian TV
will continue to collaborate with foreign correspondents objectively and
without any favouritism, and those who are still dreaming of French Algeria
should wake up to the reality.
This was a commentary on French TV channel TF1’s allegation.
Algerian radio, Algiers, October 17, 1997
NIGERIA
I. Nigerian aircraft destroy radio and TV transmitter.
In Sierra Leone the national radio and television
have been silenced [on 16th October] after an attack by Nigerian aircraft
of the West African peace force Ecomog [ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group]
destroyed its transmitter.
Two bombs hit the station which is situated some 10
km from Freetown.
Radio France Internationale, Paris, October 16, 1997
INDONESIA
I. New broadcasting bill becomes law.
Information Minister R. Hartono on [2nd October]
said that the revised bill on broadcasting has been approved and signed
into law by President Suharto.
“The government is now working out a draft regulation
for the implementation of the new law,” he told newsmen, adding that the
new law would soon be promulgated in the State Gazette.
According to the minister, the articles of the law which
do not need further regulations would be implemented soon, while those
that need regulations will wait until its draft gets approved.
The bill was first passed by the House in December last
year but was returned by President Suharto for revision. The bill was finally
passed last September.
The revision includes three clauses, namely on the funding
of state broadcasting institutions, the scope of coverage of private television
stations, and on permits for private broadcasters.
The bill requires broadcasters to obtain a five-year
licence, revocable only by a court. Commercial television and radio stations
may air their own news but must also run news bulletins provided by the
state-owned Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI).
The bill contains strict programme limits, banning “violence,
sadism, pornography, mysticism, gambling, as well as lifestyles encouraging
permissiveness, consumerism and feudalism.” It specifically outlaws programmes
which promote Marxist-Leninist thought, reflecting the government’s stand
against communism.
The bill also requires all “special broadcasters,” providers
of internet, cable TV, pay TV and teletext to obtain a licence.
Moreover, the bill calls for a code of ethics and the
establishment of a council to enforce its ethical guidelines. It also bans
advertising of alcohol and other addictive substances, and that all programmes
and advertisements to be aired on television must pass the National Censorship
Board. Punishments for violations range from administrative sanctions up
to 10 years in jail.
Antara web site, Jakarta, October 3, 1997
SINGAPORE
I. Singapore government to revise Internet regulatory
code.
Singapore authorities have revised regulations on
Internet use after a government-appointed committee called for more clarity
and openness in the rules, officials said Monday.
The National Internet Advisory Committee (NIAC) last
month had suggested that the government clarify or change its year-old
restrictions on Internet use, which include a ban on material “exciting
disaffection against the government.”
“In response to the recommendations contained in the
NIAC interim report released last month, SBA (Singapore Broadcasting Authority)
will release a revised code of practice,” the SBA, which regulates broadcast
media, said in a statement released Monday.
Details of the new code were expected to be released
Wednesday. SBA said it would also release a new “set of industry guidelines
for Internet users and the Internet industry.”
“The revised code and the industry guidelines aim to
provide the Internet industry with more clarity and simplicity on SBA’s
regulations on the Internet,” the statement added.
Singapore’s government a year ago passed regulations
banning all unauthorised political and religious discussion on the Internet.
Internet users in the island republic are also forced
to log into the net through “proxy computers,” which filter out a growing
list of websites deemed objectionable by government censors.
Authorities say the regulations are intended to block
access to pornography, to prevent tension among Singapore’s many ethnic
and religious groups and to preserve social order.
In its report last month, the NIAC said members of the
public and the Internet industry want clearer definitions of what is expected
of them under the broadly worded regulations.
The committee noted that some have called for removal
of a regulation prohibiting material “exciting disaffection against the
government.”
The NIAC said the regulations had not harmed the growth
of the Internet industry, but that there were a number of public “misconceptions”
about the rules.
“The industry feedback we received shows that the SBA’s
regulations did not pose a major hindrance to their usage of the Internet,”
committee chairman Bernard Tan said earlier.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, October 20, 1997