THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS' NETWORK
October 4, 2004
PRESS BILL WOULD RESTRICT COVERAGE OF POLITICIANS
Romanian media watchdogs, newspapers
and radio stations are protesting government plans to re-introduce a
controversial bill that would limit press activities, the Reuters news agency
reported.
Under the planned legislation, reporters
would not be allowed to take photos or videotape the houses of politicians
without permission. They would also be liable for exposing the wealth of public
figures.
Romanian media have often exposed the
wealth of government officials and parliamentarians, many of whom are also part
of the country's new business elite and live in expensive villas in exclusive
suburbs.
The bill, drafted by Ionel Olteanu of
the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), was first submitted to parliament in
April but was withdrawn after protests. Olteanu said he re-introduced the bill
after "fine-tuning" it to protect personal privacy and freedom of expression.
In a joint open letter, 11 press
watchdogs, newspapers and radio stations, asked parliament to reject the bill,
which they called a "a brutal breach of freedom of expression."
"It's disheartening to see such an
anti-European project surfacing from time to time because MPs don't like to have
their wealth scrutinized," Ioana Avadani, the executive director of the Centre
for Independent Journalism, told Reuters.
Defenders of the bill insisted it was in
line with EU legislation.
"We are all, including MPs, equal before
the law," Ionel Olteanu told Reuters.
For more information, visit
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27217821.htm:
Romanian press groups slam
politician privacy bill
27 Sep 2004 16:33:24 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Radu Marinas
BUCHAREST, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Romanian
media watchdogs, newspapers and radio stations on Monday slammed the ruling
ex-communists for trying to re-introduce a controversial bill banning reporters
from taking pictures of politicians' villas.
Romanian media has often exposed the
wealth of government officials and parliamentarians, many of whom are also part
of the country's new business elite. Many live in luxurious new villas in
Bucharest's leafy suburbs and drive expensive cars.
The Transparency International watchdog
rates Romania as one of the most corrupt countries in the region and the
European Union candidate has also criticized the candidate country for its human
rights record and poor press freedoms.
"It's disheartening to see such an
anti-European project surfacing from time to time because MPs don't like to have
their wealth scrutinised," Ioana Avadani, director of the Centre for Independent
Journalism, said of the bill.
In a joint open letter, 11 press
watchdogs, newspapers and radio stations, asked parliament to reject the bill
branded as "a brutal breach of freedom of expression."
Defenders of the bill which penalises
reporters for publishing the wealth of public figures said it aimed to protect
privacy and insisted it was in line with EU legislation.
"We are all, including MPs, equal before
the law," said the bill's author Ionel Olteanu of the ruling Social Democrat
Party.
Under the bill, which was first
submitted to parliament in April and then withdrawn after protests, public
officials can sue for damages anyone photographing or filming their houses
without permission.
Olteanu said he re-introduced the bill
after "fine-tuning" it to both protect personal privacy and freedom of
expression.
The EU has warned the Balkan country its
2007 entry goal was at risk unless it improves its human rights record and
prosecutes those behind about 20 violent attacks on reporters investigating
graft in the last 18 months.
source: IJNet 277
published by: Daniela Mathis dma@medienhilfe.ch
date of release on this site 05/10/04
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