ABC denies Chinese pressure over Uighur film

Emma Rodgers

Last Updated: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 16:48:00 +1100

ABC managing director Mark Scott says suggestions that the ABC decided not to screen a controversial film about Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer because of pressure from China are "ludicrous".

The film's producer, John Lewis, has told the Australian newspaper that the ABC, which runs Radio Australia and the Australia Network, told him the film was scheduled to show on December 17 last year.

"If I were to be asked, is the ABC kowtowing to China for some reason, I'd say I don't know but it looks awfully like it," he said.

Mr Lewis says the ABC told him it decided against screening the film last December because it wanted "things to settle down a bit".

Mr Scott was questioned in Senate Estimates on Monday about why the documentary, called The Ten Conditions of Love, had not yet screened.

He says the film was still scheduled to be shown, and he took a swipe at The Australian over its coverage of the issue.

"It was never locked in for December 17 I'm told, and we will be showing it this year," he said.

"The suggestion that somehow the ABC has buckled under pressure is absolutely ludicrous and it's particularly ludicrous coming from a News Limited newspaper, given their long corporate and complex relationship with China over many years."

December 17

But Mr Lewis strongly rejects Mr Scott's denial, saying he had numerous conversations both over the phone and through email with the ABC about it late last year.

Mr Lewis says it was made clear to him in early September that the ABC wanted to press ahead with the December 17 screening.

"That was not my idea, that was an idea proposed to me. I was told that's how it was going to be - it was very definite," he said.

On that basis Mr Lewis began plans for a DVD distribution of the film through ABC shops to begin on December 18.

But he says when he rang back to talk about several issues, including publicity, for the film in late October, he was informed the film was not being screened.

When he asked why, Mr Lewis says he was told: "We'd like things to settle down a bit".

"I was amazed to be told that the ABC wanted things to settle down a bit and I don't know what you can make of that other than to think it didn't want to cause China some offence - but of course I don't have any direct knowledge of that," he said.

Mr Lewis has also told Radio Australia's Phil Kafcaloudies, he's still surprised the ABC hasn't shown the film.

"We thought it had a natural selling line...to gain an audience, that is this was the Australian film China didn't want the world to see. But I hope it's not also the Australian film that the ABC doesn't want Australians to see," he said.

Motives

Meanwhile, Mr Scott has questioned The Australian's motives for choosing to run the story on the front page.

"I think if you look at the history of News Limited around the world, they've never been very friendly towards public broadcasting," he said.

"I think today's coverage is in a sense consistent with that line. And of course Sky News, of which News Limited is a significant shareholder, wants to be Australia's international broadcaster."

Sky News is competing with the ABC to secure the $AU20 million contract for the Australia Network, which is now run by the ABC, and has strongly attacked the ABC's decision to broadcast a 24-hour news channel.

In November last year Mr Scott outlined plans to extend the ABC's reach overseas, arguing that the public broadcaster had a role to play in "soft diplomacy".

Australia Network broadcasts to 44 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Mr Scott wants it to also be shown in China.

But he says the issue of the ABC showing the documentary has not been raised in discussions with Chinese officials.

"We all knew that Chinese officials didn't like this film but there's been no specific representation on the ABC purchasing this film," he said.

Last year Chinese officials pressured the Government over its decision to grant a visa to Ms Kadeer.