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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuela: 'Freedom of expression must be limited' |
| 2009-07-31 |
| CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's top prosecutor insisted Thursday that freedom of expression in Venezuela "must be limited" and proposed legislation that would slap additional restrictions on the country's news media. The new law would punish the owners of radio stations, television channels and newspapers that have attempted to "cause panic" and "disturb social peace," Attorney General Luisa Ortega said. It also would punish media owners who "manipulate the news with the purpose of transmitting a false perception of the facts." "Freedom of expression must be limited," Ortega said. Ortega urged lawmakers to consider her suggestions as they debate a bill that would punish as-yet-undefined "media crimes." The National Assembly, which is controlled by allies of President Hugo Chavez, is expected to approve the measure in coming months. Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director for Human Rights Watch, warned the proposed legislation "would be a terrible regression for freedom of expression." "They are trying to increase the penalties for expressions that could be considered offensive for authorities," Vivanco said in an interview broadcast by RCN Radio in Colombia. Carlos Lauria of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists called the bill "reminiscent of the dark days of Latin American dictatorships with its archaic provisions for so-called media crimes." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 Message to "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you..." |
| Posted by: Percy Spons4194 2009-07-31 15:35 |
| #6 It appears Venezuela is a bit behind our universities' Hate Speech codes. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-07-31 15:30 |
| #5 You can think what you like, too. As long as it's on the "Approved Thoughts" list, I mean... |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-07-31 14:57 |
| #4 'Freedom of expression must be limited' Coming soon to us if Bambi and his minions have their way. |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2009-07-31 14:19 |
| #3 "Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism." Except when it's not. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-07-31 13:04 |
| #2 A liberal attorney friend of mine has been saying the same thing. Birds of a feather and all that. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2009-07-31 12:56 |
| #1 Ahhhhh, Obama's mentor and idol. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-07-31 11:50 |