The Protection of State Information Bill passed last month
by the National Assembly and now awaiting approval by Parliament would make
possessing or publishing anything the government feels as
"classified" an offense punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Journalists die every day to bring the truth to the world and this is how they are repaid.
African National Congress representative, Jackson Mthembu
told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the bill was needed to replace
apartheid- era law and safeguard state secrets. He is denying that this is a
gag on the media. Mthembu wants the press to strengthen self-regulation to
balance better, an individual’s right to dignity, against the media's right to
publish. However, this tribunal, answering to parliament is two-thirds ANC and
would be tantamount to state control.
Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and the Nelson Mandela
Foundation are opposed to the bill. Agus Sudibyo a member of the Press Council
and deputy director of the SET Foundation wants the bill withdrawn because the
bill specifics are already included in the 2008 Freedom of Information Law, and
criticized the punishment included in the bill.
Under the bill, the leak of highly classified material is
punishable by four years in prison and 100 million Rupiah in fines ($11,000),
while for classified material it is three years and 50 million Rupiah ($6500).
For leaking material categorized as restricted, the given punishment is four
years in prison and a 1 billion Rupiah fine. Agus pointed out that the
punishments were the same for ordinary citizens and for state officials.
What does this bill really do? It certainly cannot protect
secrets that are not even defined, for what can be disclosed that are not
classified as secret? This is just another way to hide what is done behind
closed doors, another way to hold people down and have no regard for human
rights.
6 comments:
It sounds like a new dark era in South African history is beginning. It's good to see you back online again.
South Africa still uses the Rand. Rupiahs are what Indonesia uses. Are you from Indonesia, blogger? If so, do you really know anything about South Africa or are you yourself part of the propaganda problem? There's plenty of ills for you to attend to in Indonesia, my friend. Leave SA alone.
I'm not sure why you feel the need to support South Africa like that, RM, or maybe I do know why. SA has passed a controversial Secrecy Bill, Indonesia is planning to. They seem to have been conflated here but no need to speak to Ettarose like that. Freedom of expression lives?
FishHawk, you know you mean a lot to me, thanks for being here. I have been so busy writing for others I do not take the time to write for myself anymore. I miss it.
Relax Max, to think I used to like you. Unbelievable! I forgot my dear that you were the authority on virtually EVERYTHING. As far as the amount of the fines, unfortunately I can no longer find the article from whence this information originated from. Just to let you know I am not that big of an idiot. Glad you could stop by and yes I am fine, Thank you.
Ahh my dearest A. How I have missed you. So much going on and I have no real reason for not writing. I am going to try, in between school and my writing work I find myself swamped!
Post a Comment