H. E. Rafik Hariri
Prime Minister of Lebanon
Office of the Prime Minister
Beirut
Republic of Lebanon
Vienna, 30 September 1996
Your Excellency,
The International Press Institute (IPI) is most concerned about the recent passing of a law which will restrict the number of licenses issued to radio and television stations and ban dozens of other broadcasters from operating in Lebanon.
On 17 September 1996, a Council of Ministers’ Decree granted broadcasting licenses to four private TV stations and 11 radio stations, rejecting the applications of at least 47 other broadcasters, who were ordered to immediately refrain from broadcasting news and political programmes and must cease operating completely after 30 November.
The four TV stations granted licenses are Future TV, owned by the Prime Minister, the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) which Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is setting up, Murr-TV, owned by the brother of Deputy Prime Minister Michel Murr, and the country’s top private station, the Lebanese Broadcasting Company International (LCBI). These stations, along with state-run television, are the only ones allowed to broadcast news.
IPI is concerned that among those broadcasters licensed, several are not yet in existence, while many existing radio and TV stations were not granted licenses. Moreover, we are deeply disturbed that the licensed stations belong to pro-Syrian government figures or count among their shareholders individuals close to Damascus, while the media outlets whose applications were rejected are known for their opposition to authorities in power.
IPI, a global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, regards the new laws as both a means of satisfying the personal interests of Lebanon’s leaders and of gagging the media. We therefore strongly urge Your Excellency to do everything in your power to see that opposition media are also authorised to broadcast and that all media outlets are allowed to carry news programmes.
We thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director
