1 December 2004
CONCERN OVER NEW MEDIA LAW
Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) have expressed concern over a recently passed law in Venezuela that gives the government more power to regulate media content.
The IFEX members say the Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, approved on 24 November 2004 by the National Assembly, contains loosely worded language that could be used to silence critics.
According to Human Rights Watch, the law "severely threatens" press freedom and is a recipe for self-censorship. It contains vague provisions that violate international standards on freedom of expression, the group says. Broadcasters who incite breaches of public order can be ordered to suspend broadcasts for up to 72 hours and have their licences revoked on a second offence. Human Rights Watch says international standards only allow governments to restrict inciting content if "there is a clear relation between the speech in question and a specific criminal act."
RSF argues that the wording of the Law is open to many interpretations and could be used against media that disagree with the government.
Another point of concern is that the Law gives authorities control over an oversight body that will be established to monitor media content and penalise offenders. Seven members of an 11-person Directorate of Social Responsibility will be appointed by the government, while the head of the oversight body will be chosen by President Hugo Chávez.
Many observers say the Law is aimed at curtailing the influence of Venezuela's private media outlets, most of whom are blatantly hostile to Chávez's government. During the April 2002 coup that briefly ousted Chávez, private media openly sided with the opposition, providing round-the-clock coverage of anti-Chávez protests while refusing to air footage of massive demonstrations held in support of the President.
IAPA says it plans to hold an "emergency forum" in Venezuela on 6 December to highlight its concerns about the new Law. It will include presentations by legal experts on aspects of the Law that will affect the media.
Visit:
- Human Rights Watch: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/62795/
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11954
- IAPA: http://www.sipiapa.org/pressreleases/chronologicaldetail.cfm?PressReleaseID=1249
- Inter Press Service:
http://www.ipsnews.net/new_nota.asp?idnews=26304
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