Reporteri Fara Frontiere / ActiveWatch-Agentia de Monitorizare a Presei: Government tries to rush through civil and criminal codes reform curtailing right to information

24 martie 2009

Reporters Without Borders and its partner organisation, the Media Monitoring Agency, condemn the restrictions on the right to information contained in a proposed reform of the criminal and civil codes which the government agreed on the 25th of February to submit to parliament on 11 March.

“Articles in title II, section 3 of the proposed draft civil code, and article 225 in the draft criminal code regarding the right to privacy would significantly restrict research and investigation and a legitimate right to information,” Reporters Without Borders and the Media Monitoring Agency said. “Everyone agrees on the need to protect privacy, but the terms and limits in this proposed reform would give free rein to the most restrictive interpretations”.

“As it stands, the draft civil code would reduce the work of the press to just putting out information and statements that have been explicitly approved by those that produce them. The right of reply is part of journalistic practice but it cannot acquire the automatic character envisaged by this bill. The proposed reform’s requirements in the articles referring to data protection would also seriously undermine the right to the protection of sources that is the basis of all investigative journalism.”

“Like all European Union members, Romania has a duty to set an example when drafting laws affecting news and information, both as regards the substance of these laws and the way they are drafted. The interventionist nature of this reform in some ways recalls the June 2008 bill that would have forced national radio and TV stations to broadcast ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ news in equal measure.”

“Amendments to the criminal and civil codes are needed for Romania to conform to European media standards but they cannot be adopted without consulting with all of the actors involved. As it already did as regards digital broadcasting last November, the government prefers to act in haste and without any kind of consultative process although the basic principles of a modern democracy are at stake.”

Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard said: “We encourage all possible measures that help to combat the corruption that undermines the state’s ability to function properly, but it is absurd to try to attack corruption by restricting the freedom of investigative journalists to operate.”

The press freedom organisation added: “Citing European Commission demands in order to justify the haste and the procedural methods used is unacceptable. We urge parliament to reject these bills and to demand a debate with all the actors involved. The subjects concerned are too important to reach a decision with such precipitation.”

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Reporteri Fara Frontiere: Noile coduri penal si civil sunt incompatibile cu dreptul la informare

de V.O. HotNews.ro

Marti, 24 martie 2009

Organizatia Reporteri Fara Frontiere si partenerul sau local, Agentia de Monitorizare a Presei, condamna, intr-un comunicat difuzat marti, restrictiile asupra dreptului la informare impuse prin masurile de reforma a codurilor civil si penal, pe care guvernul roman a decis sa le inainteze in Parlament.

Potrivit celor doua organizatii, articolele din titlul II, sectiunea 3 din proiectul de cod civil si articolul 225 din proiectul de cod penal, referitoare la dreptul la viata privata, ar restrictiona in mod semnificativ demersurile de cercetare si investigare si dreptul legitim la informatie. "Toata lumea este de acord cu nevoia de a proteja viata privata, dar temenii si limitele impuse de aceasta reforma propusa ar da mana libera celor mai restrictive interpretari".

Potrivit Reporteri Fara Frontiere:

In versiunea sa actuala, proiectul de cod civil va reduce munca de presa la difuzarea de informatii si declaratii care au fost aprobate in mod explicit de cei care le furnizeaza.

Reglementarile propuse in articolele ce se refera la protectia datelor ar determina, de asemenea, in mod grav dreptul la protejarea surselor, care reprezinta fundamentul jurnalismului de investigatie

Asemenea tuturor membrilor UE, Romania are datoria sa ofere un exemplu atunci cand elaboreaza legi referitoare la informatie, atat in ceea ce priveste substanta acestor legi, cat si in privinta felului cum sunt elaborate. Natura interventionista a acestei reforme aminteste, intr-un fel, de proiectul din iunie 2008, ce ar fi fortat posturile de radio si TV sa difuzeze in egala masura stiri pozitive si negative.

Sunt necesare amendamente la codurile civil si penal pentru ca Romania sa se conformeze standardelor media europene, dar aceste amendamente nu pot fi adoptate fara consultarea tuturor partilor implicate.

Guvernul prefera sa actioneze in graba si fara niciun fel de proces consultativ, desi miza o constituie principiile fundamentale ale unei democratii moderne

Secretarul general al Reporteri Fara Frontiere, Jean-Francois Julliard: "Incurajam toate masurile posibile ce ar putea contribui la lupta impotriva coruptiei ce submineaza capacitatea statului de a functiona adecvat, insa este absurd sa incercam sa atacam fenomenul coruptiei restrictionand libertatea jurnalistilor de investigatie de a actiona"

"Este inacceptabila invocarea cererilor Comisiei Europene drept argument pentru graba si metodele procedurale folosite. Indemnam Parlamentul sa respinga aceste proiecte si sa solicite o dezbatere cu toate partile implicate. Subiectele in cauza sunt prea importante pentru a lua o decizie cu atata graba".