ACMA scrutinises Indo 'terror' broadcaster

James Riley
Monday, 17 August 2009 03:58

IT Industry - Market

The communications watchdog has been asked to monitor a TV broadcaster suspected of being funded in part by paramilitary outfit Hezbollah for breaches of anti-terrorism standards.

The al-Manar TV service is broadcast via an Indonesian satellite and is available in Australia. The anti-terror standards prohibit programs that recruit or solicit funds for listed terrorist organisation.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told the Senate an examination of the al Manar service conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) last year did not find any breaches of the standards – but asked that the authority continue to monitor the service.

The al-Manar service is available in Australia through the Indosat satellite footprint. ACMA’s initial investigation of the service covered a nine-day period.

“ACMA found that al-Manar did not breach the antiterrorism standards, as the program content did not recruit people to join Hezbollah or solicit funds for them,” Senator Conroy told the Senate.

“Given the seriousness of this matter and the limited amount of content examined in the investigation, the government has asked ACMA to continue to keep this matter under close scrutiny and to ensure that programs broadcast in Australia do not breach our antiterrorism standards or other criminal codes.”

Senator Conroy said al-Manar had never been prohibited in Australia, and that the ACMA investigation did not stem from any specific complaint, but followed reports that the broadcaster received at least part of its funding from Hezbollah.

Shadow communications spokesman Nick Minchin has called for the anti-terrorism broadcasting services standard to be urgently reviewed.

He says that during the period ACMA monitored al-Manar, senior Hezbollah figures including its general-secretary and his deputy outlined their views, there were also discussions about Hezbollah’s military struggle against Israel, the promotion of jihad and martyrdom.

“This cased demonstrates that the anti-terrorism broadcasting standard appears to be far too narrow in its focus and application,” Senator Minchin said.

Senator Conroy said government recognised the issue was a significant concern in the community and encouraged people to complain to ACMA if they become aware of specific content that they though breached the anti-terrorism standards.