BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/06/2008

Belarus - Media bill approved by lower house on second reading

MONTREAL, June 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Reporters Without Borders condemns the haste with which the chamber of representatives has approved a new media bill. It was passed on second reading yesterday with three minor modifications. Media will no longer have to renew their registration with the authorities if they change address. The definition of "correspondent centre" has been modified and clause covering misrepresentation has been withdrawn.

"This is a repressive bill for independent media and for websites, which for the first time will be covered by a media law in Belarus," Reporters Without Borders said. "Online media will now be subject to the same control as newspapers and radio and TV stations. The Internet has until now been one of the few spaces where Belarusians could express themselves freely. We fear that censorship will be stepped up."

Natallya Pyatkevich, a member of the lower house and spokesperson for the presidential office, said in a TV interview on 23 June that it was technically impossible to "purge the Internet" of its content. The bill stipulates that website activity will henceforth be regulated by government decrees instead of laws.

Belarus Association of Journalists lawyer Mikhail Pastukhu said the government was trying to get the bill adopted as quickly as possible in order to avoid a public debate and criticism. It still has to be approved by the upper house and signed by the president before it takes effect.

Source:

http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/June2008/25/c7693.html

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