Uruguay

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URUGUAY No important developments concerning press freedom have taken place in Uruguay during the period encompassed by this re-port. A new team of a different political character took over the reins of government on March 1. It is made up of representatives from the country's two traditional political parties, forming a coalition government. The administration has outlined its first projects, none of which appears to threaten press freedom or to interfere with journalistic tasks. Although the press has not succeeded in obtaining certain tax concessions, the government has imposed no new taxes that would affect the media's operations. Several tax-related obstacles - already in existence before the new government came into powerinvolve a varied structure of levies for imported newsprint and that of domestic manufacture. The government also makes things more difficult by giving unequal treatment to different media both for accounts receivable and accounts payable. In the first six months of the current government, distribution of official advertising has improved notably, using more technical criteria and leaving aside politics. Many state entities in the past had punished or rewarded media according to the sympathies or whims of political bosses. In spite of this positive change, there are some last-minute worrysome indications that this trend will not take root. It is feared that the temptation will again arise to spend public funds according to arbitrary political criteria, and in support of media politically allied with the authorities or obedient to them. Two factors could be potential obstacles to freedom of expression in Uruguay, depending on the path they take. One of them is the content of a bill under consideration by parliament, in which Article 9 would restrict cigarette and tobacco advertising in such a severe way that it would do away with the whole point of advertising. If this bill is approved in its entirety, it could establish a dangerous precedent that could extend into other areas. The other issue of concern is the increased number of lawsuits against the media. So far, the courts have been acting with objectivity under criteria established by the Press Law - No. 16,099, passed March 11, 1989 - containing regulatory elements that have frequently been objected to by the media and journalists. The Press Law encourages some members of the legal profession to stir up a veritable "industry" of lawsuits against the media.

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