BA refuses AD's request for political programme on private station
IThe Broadcasting Authority has refused an Alternattiva Demokratika request for the transmission of a programme on a private television station explaining its electoral programme and introducing its candidates.
Addressing a news conference this morning, AD chairman Arnold Cassola said that the respective PN and PL MEP candidates were constantly given exposure on political programmes and adverts aired constantly and continuously.
"All we asked for is the opportunity to have one or two programmes to promote the policies and campaign of our party, but incredibly and unfairly, the Broadcasting Authority... ruled that AD cannot transmit programmes promoting its issues – it requested AD to ensure that any programme it pays for on a private TV station be ‘balanced’ – that is to give exposure for free to the PN and PL both of whom have their own partisan TV stations broadcasting propaganda continuously."
Prof Cassola said: "The Boradcasting Authority is using two weights and two measures. The shameless, uncontrolled, one-sided propaganda on the PN and PL TV stations occurs nowhere in other EU countries.’ ‘Another issue which, a few weeks before the European Parliament election is still unresolved is the issue of how the sixth seat in the EP will be assigned. It is unacceptable that the rules of the game are not made public, discussed and decided yet," he said.
Prof. Cassola also accused the Electoral Commission of breaching an EU directive when it struck foreigners off the Maltese electoral register.
Candidate Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros expressed AD’s concern about the increase in unemployed and said that the market should accomodate the needs of people and families and not the other way round. ‘
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Franco Farrugia
May 6th 2009, 13:37
@ Margaret Richards - Oh, forgive me, from the way you express yourself, I took you to be male as well. Now I note your first name. And what do you want to mean by your last ... well, let's call it, argument? What have 'men' got to do with 'judges' and AD? Can you enlighten us? But please watch your back, don't stoop too low!
Everyone in his/her right senses are aware that the environment is merely a facade for the two major political parties, trying to garner votes and using environmentalists for their vote-catching exercises.
Margaret Richards
May 5th 2009, 21:35
"..what AD have been saying about the environment for the past 15 years, is now being vindicated by both MLPN"! T is a defeatist AD tune . Moaning and groaning because both parties have robbed AD of their environment issue, As i already pointed it out to Dr. Cassola, this IS NOT AN AD ISSUE AND IT NEVER HAS BEEN. The pioneer of environment issue, and the Cultural Heritage of mankind, have been launched years and years back by Dr. George Borg Olivier and by Ambassador Arvid Pardo. AD to their credit recognized that it's a very important issue and took it up. Luckily other parties realized the importance of environment and not only locally but also internationally. Not for nothing there is the Kyoto protocol. If you watch to Dr. Cassola, dear Mr. Mangion you can do so from sunrise till sunset, but make sure you get your priorities. right. Also it seems that the majority of the JUDGES in this feature are MEN!!! Why doesn't this surprise me????
D.MANGION
May 5th 2009, 14:10
Margaret Richards
I want to hear the AD's views on all subjects under the sun, even if I might not agree with some of them.
If I have to bear all the lies, broken promises, and hogwash that the MLPN empire air out every day, why shouldn't I have the right to hear AD's views?
If I have to read your blogs, why shouldn't I be able to watch Dr. Arnold Cassola and his teams opinions? And....by the way....what AD have been saying about the environment for the past 15 years, is now being vindicated by both MLPN. Evidently, time has proven AD right ! If for nothing else, at least they deserve to be heard because time has proven that they were 15 years ahead of their time.
Joe Fenech
May 4th 2009, 20:58
This stinks of Malta in Uncle Gonzi's time!!
Franco Farrugia
May 4th 2009, 18:44
@ Margaret Richards: First of all, kindly mind your language and your tone - I do not happen to be some mediocre idiot that you perhaps usually contend with. And neither am I some inferior or your subject! Goodness: the tone of your comments surely say a lot about you. Talk about who really thinks that s/he 'knows it all'. So, you seem to 'know it all' about AD - perhaps you should allow the rest of us mortals, and tax-payers, to listen to what they have to say. AD also have every right to air their views. Or, Miss know-it-all, shall we now start censoring ideas according to your whims and fancies? Of course I know what the European Greens stand for and certainly we need some of their ideas in our backward country. So, you see, that didn't stop me in my tracks.
Margaret Richards
May 3rd 2009, 21:03
Dear Franco Farrugia knows it all, thing is I happen to know that what AD stands for should be liberalism, but they are conservative just to garner votes. Had they been always conservative I would not have commented, but to be conservative just to garner votes is not fair. Do you know what European Greens stand for??? If not go and see the European Green manifesto and compare. Perhaps you would not blab so much. Why don't you ask AD what is their position vis-a'-vis abortion, women's rights, divorce, immigration etc??? Perhaps that would stop you in your tracks.
Joseph Cauchi
May 3rd 2009, 20:21
TBA do not see a programme before it is aired..we are not in North Korea (yet!)....
Franco Farrugia
May 3rd 2009, 20:02
@ Margaret Richards - Are you so sure that you are a person who loves democracy? Are you so sure that you are not one of those many people who wish Malta to become a one-party state?
Could you perhaps tell us why it is so vehemntly wrong for AD to air their political manifesto? Do you think that AD have no right to inform the public what their political manifesto is all about? Or are you one of those Maltese people who think only in terms of blue and red and no other colours are allowed?
The more time passes, the more I come to the conclusion that the Maltese people are not great lovers of democracy.
ISABELLE CALLEJA
May 3rd 2009, 19:32
THe BA should ensure not just the rule of law but also the spirit of the law and in a democracy we should provide measures by which all political parties can explain their programmes fully to electorate so that they can make an informed decision when they go to the polls
Joe Fenech
May 3rd 2009, 18:39
Margaret Richards:
"turns that it's not worth putting on air???"
Who are you to judge?
LGalea
May 3rd 2009, 18:20
Margaret Richards
All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.
Margaret Richards
May 3rd 2009, 17:35
Oh no!!! Not Again!!! Dr. Cassola pleeeaassee.....when are you going to stop victimizing yourself? When someone turns down a request by AD, then you cry blue murder. Have you ever thought that perhaps your manifesto or so called policies are so full of continuous U turns that it's not worth putting on air??? When other parties took your cue on Environment, you started moaning that they robbed you of your Environment Issue, re Immigration you moaned that they are turning people against you, now mighty of mightiest, you are moaning again because you will not be on TV. Who knows why eh????
malcolm seychell
May 3rd 2009, 15:58
I fully understand Prof Cassola.
It is disgusting the democracy we have in this country when it comes to freedom of expression.
Joe Fenech
May 3rd 2009, 15:30
Malta is governed by a totalitarian regime, so nothing surprises me!
Malta always finds ways of shutting people up: we prevent them from using media, sent them to court... Sounds like the Philippines or North Korea!!!
Charles Sammut
May 3rd 2009, 15:09
The BA insists that TV political programs are balanced. Therefore if a political party such as AD, AN, IE or ALDP buy airtime on a private TV station, they have to invite representatives from the other political parties.
This does not apply to Net and One TV because the Orwellian principle regarding the equality of the animals on the farm, is applied rigorously. I wonder what the "P" in PN and PL stands for.