Argentina

ARGENTINA WHEREAS • the security of journalists has deteriorated because of anonyrnous threats and physical attacks • representatives of the ]usticialista party were involved in some of the most serious attacks on journalists and police troops were involved in another • the government has denounced media criticism on the baseless charge that the media, which includes more than a hundred dailies and at least that many weeklies, and numerous magazines, radio and television stations, is dominated by monopolies • the government has sent to the Congress a bill that would regulate the content of radio and television broadcasts and create a "Committee for the Defense of Freedom of Expression" that would have repressive powers • the Congress has not yet acted on guaranteeing journalists' right to protect news sources, despite the introduction of numerous bills that would provide such assurance • the Supreme Court upheld action by the Labor Ministry that prohibits the sale of newspapers on NewsboyDay • on a positive note, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed in two rulings the right of news media to report on public figures and topics of general interest without fear of legal reprisal • the accords between Argentine political forces make constitutional reform likely • the present Constitution contains provisions such as Artieles 14 and 32 which represent an absolute guarantee of freedom of the press and are thus a landmark for the press THE 49TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES • that the government must take steps to assure the safety of journalists • that government regulation of radio and television must not interfere with the free flow of information • that legislation designed to regulate radio broadcasting be limited to the allocation and technical administration of frequencies without interferring with free flow of information by any sort of regulations that would affect the content of broadcasts. • that the Executive Branch must not interfere with the sale of newspapers, even for a day • that the IAPA applauds the reaffirmation of rights of the press to report without fear of legal reprisal on the lives of public figures and on topics of general interest • that the IAPA urge the Executive Branch and the Congress that in case a constitutional reform is decided upon, the language and the spirit of Artieles 14 and 32 of the present Constitution be preserved.