Victor Roncea Blog

Suntem foarte ingrijorati in ce priveste modificarile propuse, asta pentru ca anunta posibilitatea de reintoarcere la cel putin o formula de interventie a statului daca nu chiar la cenzura. Se pune problema inregistrarii si controlului tuturor celor care lucreaza in domeniul mass-media sau al editurilor. Toate astea, nor­mal, starnesc profunde ingri­jorari, iar intentia noastra este sa cerem colegilor nostri, Asociatia jurnalistilor din Republica Moldova, sa investigheze aceasta situatie si sa ia legatura cu autoritatile pentru a ne lamuri asupra implicatiilor pe care le pot avea aceste schimbari. Ceea ce ne ingrijoreaza cel mai mult este ca schimbarile propuse in legislatie vor scoate Republica Moldova din drumul spre UE, din lipsa de acord intre legislatia si normele europene si cele nationale, tocmai prin aceasta incercare de a impune un control asupra presei si informatiei. In mod special, ne ingrijoreaza ca legea respectiva, cu amen­damentele ei, va fi una impotriva Conventiei europene asupra drepturilor omului. Din punctul nostru de vedere, aceasta situatie trebuie sa fie urmarita cu toata atentia la nivelul OSCE. Im­partasim punctul de vedere si ingrijorarile semnalate de sem­natarii co­municatului si de colegii nostri de la MediaSind, organizatia noastra afiliata din Romania, colegii nostri romani avand stranse relatii cu jurnalistii din Republica Moldova, incercand sa stabileasca aliante tocmai pentru a face fata acestui tip de probleme. Suntem foarte ingri­jorati de situatia creata si speranta noastra este ca Guvernul Republicii Moldova si Parlamentul vor analiza aceste lucruri si-si vor schimba tipul de abordare. Credem ca este absolut esential ca Republica Moldova sa revada aceste propuneri si sa interzica orice tip de alte prevederi care sa restranga libertatea de actiune din mass-media.

Asta ne da impresia ca legiui­torii din Republica Moldova se intorc in timp, in perioada intunecata a controlului absolut exercitat de stat si a cenzurii. Mi se pare ca atunci cand societatea ar trebui sa se deschida, sa recunoasca beneficiile trans­parentei si pluralismului, ale democratiei bazate pe schimbul reciproc intre toate opiniile exis­tente la nivelul opiniei publice, introducerea unor legi sau regle­mentari care interzic sau constrang libertatea de exprimare merge complet intr-o directie gresita.
Cristian UNTEANU, Bruxelles

ZIUA

SEEMO PRESS RELEASE MOLDOVA

SEEMO Expresses Concern at Several Recent Legal Developments in Moldova

Vienna, 22 September 2008
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is concerned about several recent legal developments in Moldova that contain threats to press freedom, freedom of expression, and the right of access to information.
According to information before SEEMO, Moldova’s Parliament has passed an amendment to the Law on Editorial Activity that came into effect on 26 June 2008. The Law on Editorial Activity now includes a ban on printing material that challenges or defames the state and the people, incites war, aggression, national, racial or religious hatred, discrimination, territorial separatism, public violence or in any other way that threatens the constitutional regime. SEEMO supports the Publishers’ Union of Moldova in their claim that this amendment could result in self-censorship.
SEEMO is also alarmed by the recently adopted restrictive regulations concerning the assessment, selection and publication of textbooks for pre-university education, which favour the state publishing houses subordinated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism over other publishing houses. In recent years, several Moldovan publishing houses invested money and human resources in projects concerning textbooks and created a complex editorial system. The government, however, has discounted these efforts by introducing the new regulations, which could negatively affect the education system in Moldova.
Furthermore, SEEMO would like to express its concern at a worrisome draft law, the Law on Preventing and Fighting Crimes Committed by Means of the Information System, which is soon to be passed by Parliament. According to the draft law, internet service providers will be required to store the personal data of users and provide this information to the authorities upon request.
Moreover, the draft Law on State Secrets, which is soon to be adopted by Parliament, would result in a limitation of public access to official information. The draft would provide far-reaching powers to public authorities and the Security and Information Service by enabling them to declare as classified any information they consider to be a state secret.
SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic expressed concern about these recent legal developments in Moldova. He emphasized that “a free and independent media is a crucial component of a modern democratic society” and that “it is important to ensure a pluralist media environment, since it contributes to an educated and informed public.”
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SEEMO is a regional network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe.
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Tel (SEEMO+HELP LINE): +43 1 513 39 40

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