PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

[SandyB]

OF NOTE ,,,  PREVIOUSLY IN THE OLD  REGIME BANNED WORKS AUTHORS HAVE THEIR SAY .. BELOW ...

Writers protest against media 'muzzle'
Johannesburg - Jeopardising the freedom of writers will endanger the freedom of every reader in South Africa, renowned authors said on Friday in protest against proposed controls over the South African media.
"Writing presupposes an interaction with readers. And so, if the work and the freedom of the writer are in jeopardy, the freedom of every reader in South Africa is in danger.
"Consequently our protest is an action undertaken by South Africans for all South Africans, committing ourselves to a demand for our free country: freedom of thought expressed, freedom of dialogue, freedom from fear of the truth about ourselves, all South Africans," said a statement.
The protest, organised by acclaimed authors Andre Brink and Nadine Gordimer, is opposing government's draft Protection of Information Bill and the ANC's proposed media tribunal.
Wide support
It is being supported by fellow writers Zakes Mda, Abraham H de Vries, Chris Barnard, Breyten Breytenbach, Marlene van Niekerk, Zo Wicomb, Damon Galgut, Mandla Langa, Etienne van Heerden, Hermann Giliomee, Fred Khumalo and Justice Malala.
"Denial of freedom of expression makes a mockery of the profession of journalism - the print press and the media in general.
"As writers - whether novelists, poets, playwrights, essayists, historians, biographers or others - we too are threatened by denial of freedom of the word."
Many of the writers supporting the protest were banned under the apartheid regime.
"We are threatened again, now with a gag over the word processor if we penetrate the 'transparency' promised in the new South Africa, which a media tribunal will replace with the descent of a shutter over the dialogue of the arts."
The bill and the tribunal have led to debate over media freedom. The ANC has argued that current media watchdog, the Press Ombudsman, is not sufficient and an alternative to self-regulation was needed.
The Protection of Information Bill seeks to regulate the classification of information and makes publishing top secret documents a crime punishable with up to 25 years in prison.

[SandyB]

MORE ,, FAR MORE  IMPORTANT THAN >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ ITS IMPORTANT ,,,  IF YOU CAN ADD A VOICE ,,,



ANC criticism of media 'ironic'
Cape Town - The ANC's use of the Cape Argus brown envelope journalism saga as ammunition against the media is "ironic", said the editor-in chief of Independent Newspapers Cape Chris Whitfield on Thursday.   
"It's ironic that the ANC is using this saga to (argue for) the media tribunal," said Whitfield on the topic of the ANC's proposed media tribunal and Protection of Information Bill during a Cape Town Press Club gathering.
Whitfield pointed out that the journalists, Ashley Smith and Joseph Aranes, were paid to write favourable stories by a high ranking ANC official, the then premier of the Western Cape Ebrahim Rasool.
"The ANC should first see the immense beam in their own eye," he added.
He mentioned, however, that the media also needs to address their own shortcomings.
"Standards have slipped, but there is hope at the end of the tunnel... (Many) media houses have launched training schools and investigative units. They are using resources to turn things around.
Hopes dashed
Whitfield said that he had initially been optimistic and believed that the proposed Protection of Information Bill and media tribunal would not be implemented. "But last week I got the sense that that hope was dashed."
He attributed this sentiment to ArcelorMittal's BEE deal, President Jacob Zuma "flailing away" at the media in an ANC Today newsletter and the arrest of Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Africa.
"This is the first time in 16 years that journalists need to take a decisive stand...in the interests of our craft and democracy."
While be believes that more and more people are supporting the media's campaign against the ANC's proposed regulations, "ordinary people need to realise the impact that these restriction of information will have".
"The Protection of Information bill applies to everybody. If you receive a fax of a document that has been classified and you don't hand it in to the police, you will be liable for a fine of about R25 000.
"I have read the Protection of Information Bill and it is way wide...It gives power to low level servants... For example, fishing stocks, the Sharks Board can decide it can't go out."
When asked whether Constitutional Court action will be taken if the proposed media regulations are implemented, Whitefield said that at a South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) meeting held two week ago, "a fundraising drive for this very purpose was launched".

[toonfandangl]

This Sandy is why WIKILEAKS is important    "could become as important a journalistic tool as the freedom of Information Act"  this is what Time Magazine has said about the group.

They the authorities will do there utmost to discredit this WIKILEAKS group and below has been one way to discredit their organisation.

The Internet is a powerful tool and to some its to late, the cat is out of the bag as to speak. As I said they tried to introduce an Internet filter here in Australia and that has lead to the Labour party after having a 17 seat majority in the House of Representatives landing themselves with a hung Parliament and their Minister for Communications Steven Conroy would have some of the blame laid at his feet and the fact they knifed the PM in his first term of office.

Fight on Sandy!  like Harold Macmillan who once said the "wind of change" blowing through the continent of Africa, well I think the winds of change are upon us once again.................................................Remember.................. WIKILEAKS!!........... I will have to update that site.

    * By Karl Ritter
    * From: AP
    * August 22, 2010 11:07PM


SWEDISH prosecutors defended their handling of a rape allegation against the founder of WikiLeaks, saying that they had made no mistakes in issuing an arrest warrant and withdrawing it less than a day later.

Australian-born Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said the short-lived warrant had damaged his group nonetheless.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority said an "on-call" prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for Mr Assange late on Friday only to see it revoked the next day by a higher-ranked prosecutor, who found no grounds to suspect him of rape.

"The prosecutor who took over the case yesterday had more information, and that is why she made a different assessment than the on-call prosecutor," said Karin Rosander, a spokeswoman for the authority.

She declined to specify what the new material was, but said there was "absolutely nothing" that suggested errors had been made by either prosecutor.


Mr Assange was in Sweden last week seeking legal protection for the webiste, which angered the Obama administration by publishing thousands of leaked documents about US military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WikiLeaks is preparing to release of a fresh batch of classified US documents from the Afghan war, despite warnings from the Pentagon that they could endanger American soldiers and their Afghan helpers.

The secretive Australian remains under suspicion of a lesser crime of molestation, which would not lead to an arrest warrant. Molestation covers a wide of range of offences under Swedish law, including inappropriate physical contact with another adult, and can result in fines or up to one year in prison.

Mr Assange called the allegations "without basis" in a Twitter posting and questioned the motives behind them in an interview with a Swedish newspaper.

The tabloid Aftonbladet quoted Mr Assange as saying the allegations had caused damage even though the rape suspicion was dropped, because WikiLeaks' "enemies" could use them to discredit the site.

"I don't know who's behind this but we have been warned that for example the Pentagon plans to use dirty tricks to spoil things for us," he said in comments translated to Swedish.

"I have also been warned about sex traps."

There was no immediate reaction today from the Pentagon on Assange's comments.

Mr Assange rejected the molestation accusation and said he has never - in Sweden or elsewhere - "had sex with anyone without the full consent of both parties".


Were there's smoke there is fire not always.

[SandyB]

ATTACHED  FROM ONE OF MY FAVOURITE READS  ,, THE BIG ISSUE .... ON THIS SUBLECT .. I LOVE THE  ONE WITH TEETH BY LAUREN BEUKES ...  MORE DISTURBING IS IN THE EDS  COMMENT  , CHILD MALEMAS STATEMENT ,, " WE HAVE DECIDED "
PLEASE  EXCUSE  THE PDF  YOU GONNA HAVE TO  ROTATE TO READ ,,, 

[SandyB]

NO COMMENT ... AAAW COME ON ...  READ AND COMMENT ... ITS ALL  PART OF THE SCENARIO ...

[SandyB]

On the  subject ,,, the charges  against the journalist Mr Wa Africa have been been withdrawn by the NPA  ,, but then the HAWKS ,,,  the watered down version of the scorpions  ,, now under the  control of the police  and  no longer independent ( iow answerable to police chief and ultimately Govt )  say they will still be vigorously  persueing the charges against him .. now they  got their agenda  screwed ,, they supposwed to be pursueing  corrupt criminals ...   again ANC poephols .. dont like exposure  and trying to intimidate the press ...   people  its indeed  scary times ...  comment ...

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

You right Sandy, it is very sad and unfortunate that we have a government that are criminals themselves. That is why things are going as it is to cover their own tracks. ANC stands for All National Criminals!!!!.

[SandyB]

I ADD  ONE FROM THE FINANCIAL TIMES , THERE IS AN INSERT ON THE WA AFRIKA CASE AS WELL ,,,
SELECTIVE MORALITY SEEMS TO APPLY ..

[SandyB]

ONCE AGAIN  ALL ON THIS SITE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON AVAAZ  TO  PETITION THE GOVT TO NOT TRY PROCEED WITH BULLDOZING THIS DRACONIAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION THROUGH ...
CLICK  ON THE LINK AND VOTE ...   

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_secrecy_bill/?cl=1273585938&v=10276

[SandyB]

to those that voted ... thanks ... that apart there seems to be dissent within  the ANC as well so the bill will not be tabled tomorrow .. seems  there are some  within the ranks  that have some common sense , and also i think thy realise it will be a fierce battle  to the constitutional court level that may leave them with egg on  their faces ...

[Michael Alexander]

Cape Town – In a powerful on-screen editorial opinion piece, veteran Carte Blanche anchor Derek Watts took to M-Net's airwaves on Sunday evening to blast the South African government's proposed Protection of Information Bill, or so-called Secrecy Bill, saying "This is the first stage of turning South Africa into another state where media freedom is virtually extinguished."

"I believe the question has to be asked why do we need the Protection of Information Bill to stifle journalism and hamper media freedom?" the highly-respected Watts said in a seldom-seen on-air editorial in the acclaimed show.

"Where in our short democratic history has that freedom led to any direct harm to the government as a whole or to our country?"

Media Freedom Week started today in South Africa while the so-called Secrecy Bill goes to the National Assembly for final debate and voting on Tuesday.

Journalists and the free press in South Africa are united in not letting the Secrecy Bill, described as draconian, unconstitutional, anti-democratic, misguided and unnecessary, slip by quietly, which would be a setback for media freedom in South Africa.

The team from the highly acclaimed and long running investigative magazine show also recorded a special public service announcement (PSA) that's running on television.

Threat to 'lifeblood of democracy'

"We, the journalists of South Africa believe the Protection of Information Bill is a threat to our constitutional right of access to information and freedom of expression, and hence the lifeblood of our democracy," says Watts in the separate PSA as the whole Carte Blanche team stands together on screen.

"Should the National Assembly adopt this Secrecy Bill and president Jacob Zuma sign it into law, they'll be directly responsible for the erosion of openness, transparency and accountability in South Africa," says Carte Blanche presenter Chantal Rutter.

"As journalists we are dedicated to serving the public interest by helping to hold those with power to account," says Devi Sankaree Govender.

"Regardless of any law, we remain duty bound to protect whistleblowers who help us expose wrongdoing in the public interest."

Finally Watts says in the PSA: "We commend and support the Right 2 Know campaign and all democrats who oppose the Protection of Information Bill