EL SALVADOR
Legislative and judicial initiatives could directly affect press freedom. A draft bill for the reform of the Criminal Code and Procedures includes "regulations" of the free practice of journalism.
Legislative Assembly members are presently considering amendments that would give judges discretionary powers to inform about court cases and thus impede free access to information concerning them.
Among the main revisions are the following:
Article 5: No authority or public official can present or give out information to the media alleging the guilt of a person unless that person has been found guilty by the court.
Officers of the court can objectively inform about the charges against the defendant once the case has been brought to trial.
The court to hear the case can restrict press access if it considers that publicity could adversely affect the trial.
In the case of those accused of rebellion, only the most basic facts required for arraignment will be made available.
Both the public employees and officials violating these rules by giving out unauthorized information and the media publishing such information will be held responsible for any ensuing damages, without prejudice to any criminal proceedings that might ensue.
Article 239, Paragraph 4: Prisoners will not be made available to any media without their express consent, which must be given in the presence of a lawyer, with previous consultation and in observance of certain formalities.
Article 266: Court files will be kept confidential. Both sides can examine them at any time but must not divulge their contents.
The judge may keep files sealed for up to 10 days if he deems disclosure will hinder investigations.
Article 322: The trial will be open to the public but the bench may decide to make part or all of it in camera.
Other major events affecting press freedom include constant threats against journalist Patricia Meza of La Noticia by a quaSi-fundamentalist group, the self-syled "Dr. Ayala's Line," an obscure group of recovering alcoholics who objected to a series of published articles based on extensive investigations.
Several El Diario de Hoy journalists have also received threats from National Civil Police (PNC) agents after the newspaper reported on an investigation into alleged participation of the police in the murder of a youth.
Several judges have denied information to journalists about court cases under their jurisdictionparticularly those involving private or public corruption - as if the proposed amendment of the penal code had already become law.
New print and broadcast media have sprung up in in recent years, but others have disappeared. In the last six months, the weekly Primera Plana ceased publication after failing to hold market share.
