Despite the programme being entitled ‘Death on the Med’ (BBC, 16/8/10), it barely mentioned the deaths of the nine activists who were shot thirty one times by Israeli commandos. There was no examination of how they died, the level of violence used against them, or whether their deaths were avoidable. No use, or even mention, was made of the autopsy reports (indicating that five out of the nine killed had been shot in the head), and the programme also failed to mention that over 50 passengers suffered serious injuries. Abbas Al Lawati, who was aboard the Mavi Marmara, says, ‘Nowhere does Corbin mention Dogan’s autopsy results or those of the eight others killed. Nowhere does she challenge Israel’s claim that Dogan was shot in self-defense… It is unclear whether the holes in the documentary are a result of weak journalism or a deep bias, but what is for sure is that Israel’s previously unsuccessful attempts to put a positive spin on the events of that night have received a major boost as a result.’ [1]
I suggested to Ebrahim Musaji, who was also on the Mavi Marmara, that he contact Jane Corbin, but he said that it would be pointless, as Kenneth O’Keefe has already done so. Indeed, O’Keefe gets to the point in a letter to Corbin:
‘…Nine people were murdered on that ship, 8 of them were fathers, the youngest was aiming to become a doctor. They were on that ship for the same reason I was, to help the people of Gaza, people that include over 800,000 children, innocent children… Deep down Jane this is the truth, programs like (‘Death on the Med’) give the insanity of blockading and bombing and otherwise terrorising innocent people more time, what you are doing in literal effect is aiding and abetting mass-murder.’ [2]
I agree that Corbin is aiding and abetting murder, despite the BBC’s cut-and-paste response to complaints about ‘Death on the Med’ that ‘we stand by the film and defend its fairness, balance and methodology. Jane Corbin has been reporting from the region, including Gaza, for 25 years…Without her reputation for balance…etc.’ Was the attack on the Mavi Marmara a war crime? It’s interesting to read a BBC guide on war crimes, which under the heading ‘Responsibility for such crimes’, says:
’Leaders, organisers, instigators and accomplices participating in the formulation or execution of a common plan or conspiracy to commit any of the crimes above are criminally responsible for everything done by anyone in carrying out such a plan.’ [3]
Kenneth O’Keefe wrote on his blog:
‘…So it is that the BBC, absent of integrity, contemptuous of humanity, attempts in this program to turn disarmed, helpless Israeli commandos into heroic self-rescuing commandos…That is what we call a bald-faced lie…
It is not that BBC does not know the truth, there are literally hundreds of witnesses and overflowing facts to reveal it; it is simply BBC’s slavish duty to produce a Zionist storyline of illusions and deceptions. And the story goes that we are the aggressors, “terrorists”, “extremists” and killers. Only in this context can the poor Israeli commandos be victims. How is it possible to dominate and control commandos simply to let them go if we are killers? Answer, it isn’t. And that is precisely why Panorama blatantly lied.’ [4]
Palestine Solidarity Campaign is urging people who have already complained to the BBC about the Panorama programme to ask for your complaint to be dealt with formally by the BBC Executive:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=24&Content_ID=1455
This includes a link to the Panorama programme if you have not already seen it.
If you have not yet complained directly to the BBC, use this link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/
[1] http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/bad-journalism-at-best-1.672617
[2] http://pulsemedia.org/2010/08/21/an-open-letter-to-bbc-panoramas-jane-corbin/#comment-13299
[3] http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/overview/crimes_1.shtml
[4] http://kenokeefe.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/bbcpanorama-delegitimises-itself-that-much-more/