| Parliamentary Assembly Assembl�e parlementaire |
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Tilos Radio – an independent, alternative community radio station – in Hungary
Doc. 10052
27 January 2004
Motion for a resolution
presented by Mr E�rsi and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it
The Assembly,
1. Notes that a punk-rock musician and poet regular guest of the Hungarian Tilos Radio (in English: “Radio Forbidden), in a live discussion – said that “I would eradicate all Christians”;
2. Believes that such statements are regrettable and not permissible;
3. Acknowledges that other participants of the show distanced themselves from the statement and that the punk-rock singer himself also apologized during the show for his remark, and after the show he apologised to the larger public several times;
4. Acknowledges that the Board of Radio Tilos also distanced itself from the statement, apologised to the public and expelled the punk-rock musician and poet from the radio with immediate effect, and informed the public about this decision;
5. Bearing in mind that intimidation against different political or minority groups in the Hungarian electronic media has been on the air several times, with no sanctions whatsoever;
6. Regrets that one indeed terrible sentence can be a cause to a series of political hysteria led against Tilos Radio, including burning of the national flag of the State of Israel at a demonstration in front of the radio;
7. Is shocked to learn that the Hungarian Media Authorities (ORTT) sanctioned the Tilos Radio with 30 days of silence, excluded it for 6 months from any tendering possibilities and gave a “last warning”;
8. Considers the “last warning” as an intimidation against editorial boards in general, and against Tilos radio in specific, that the right to broadcast will be finally cancelled if at any time in the future any similar regrettable statements will be on the air;
9. Acknowledges that Radio Tilos is a pioneer of the community radio concept in Hungary, its main objectives has always been to provide free and uncensored access to media for everyday people who can’t get their voices heard in any other “professional” media platform. The not-for-profit radio’s mission has been nurturing a constructive social debate about marginal or sensitive issues that are ignored or avoided by mainstream media. Considering that the radio’s hosts are amateurs and radio’s shows are broadcast live, the Board can only control and react to the content of the shows after they have been aired. Avoiding the threat posed by “final warning” would require Tilos Radio to break with the community radio concept introducing strict editorial control and a ban on sensitive or controversial issues. The ORTT’s decision effectively makes it hard if not impossible to maintain this free media model in Hungary;
10. Believes that these sanctions are not only disproportionate, but also imposes a danger to the freedom of speech in Hungary;
11. Considers that a report to the Assembly on the case of the Tilos Radio should be prepared.
Signed [1]:
E�rsi, Hungary, LDR
Ak�am, Turkey, EPP/CD
Arnold, Denmark, LDR
Ban�š, Slovakia, LDR
Bargholtz, Sweden, LDR
Berzinš, Latvia, LDR
�avusoglu, Turkey, LDR
Coifan, Romania, LDR
Cosarciuc, Moldova, LDR
Dees, Netherlands, LDR
Dupraz, Switzerland, LDR
Fehr, Switzerland, LDR
Frey, Switzerland, LDR
Hadžiahmetovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, LDR
Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR
Huseynov R., Azerbaijan, LDR
Jarab, Czech Republic, LDR
Kocharyan, Armenia, LDR
Lord Russell-Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR
Marty, Switzerland, LDR
Masi, San Marino, NR/NI
Milotinova, Bulgaria, LDR
Mollazade, Azerbaijan, LDR
Ramoudt, Belgium, VLD
Randegger, Switzerland, LDR
Ringstad, Norway, LDR
Schmied, Switzerland, LDR
Severinsen, Denmark, LDR
Shugarov, Georgia, LDR
Šileikis, Lithuania, LDR
Škrabalo, Croatia, LDR
Stankevic, Lithuania, LDR
Varela i Serra, Spain, LDR
Finnerty, Canada
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SOC: Socialist Group |