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« After Short Cool-Down, Fires Grow in Santa Cruz | Home | Oil Contamination Threatens Ecosystems in Tarija » Evo Defends Criminalization of Racism in MediaPosted: Nate on Sep 12 | Law & Justice In comments yesterday, President Evo Morales reiterated his support for the Law Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination which was approved by the Legislative Chamber on Friday. Article 16 of the proposal, which has been aggressively criticized by journalists, would enable regulatory agencies to fine and withdraw the communications licenses of media outlets which publish racist or discriminatory ideas. President Morales justified the law saying, “Right now some owners of communications companies and various commentators are protesting this, saying that it is an attack against freedom of expression. But you all know, particularly those of you in Santa Cruz, that there is a radio host there who insults indigenous peoples every day.” Morales also said that it is the government´s responsibility to limit the power of people who “take advantage of their microphone to express racist ideas.” Among the many national media leaders who have responded to the passage of the law, president of the National Press Association Marco Dips, said that with this law “the Bolivian State will break with the democratic system by muzzling the press.” Senator Eugenio Rojas (MAS) said that a review commission will be set up with those opposed to the law and that the government has not yet determined an implementation date for the law. For more in Spanish see: http://www.la-razon.com/version.php?a=1&ArticleId=117819&ids=&EditionId=2282&page=1&#op 1 CommentJump to comment form | comments rss | trackback uri1 Comment so far |
[...] 5. Evo in Bolivia continuous assault on freedom of expression and of the press – if anyone in the news media says something the government decrees is racist, that news organization and those reporting can be jailed. [...]