Front’s Media Bill Amendments Accepted by Government

Press Release – Front Against Censorship – 15/11/2017

Front’s Media Bill Amendments Accepted by Government

The Front Against Censorship wishes to express its satisfaction at the fact that the Government has accepted the majority of its amendments to the Media and Defamation Bill.

When the Government had proposed the Bill last February, the Front had opposed it on a number of grounds. From March onwards the Front has been engaged in intensive discussion with the Government with the aim of reaching an agreement over the contents of the Bill. These extensive efforts have now borne fruit and the Government has now accepted the Front’s proposals.

The measures which had been proposed by the Front and which have been accepted by the Government are the following.

1. Repeal of Criminal Libel and Criminal Defamation. Libel and Slander will now be tried exclusively in a Civil Court.

2. Damages awarded for Libel to remain at €11,646.87 instead of being doubled to €20,000.

3. Repeal of Obscene Libel – thus completing reform of artistic censorship laws.

4. Single Publication Rule – only one libel suit can be filed per story.

5. Universal Protection of Sources – to be extended to all authors.

6. Garnishees not to be granted in cases of Libel and Slander.

7. Law on Improper Use of Electronic Communications Networks not to apply to Libel and Slander.

8. Registration of websites will not be obligatory.

9. Criticism of the President no longer a criminal offence.

10. Reform of draconian colonial era Sedition laws.

The Front believes that these reforms represent a huge step forward in the dismantling of Malta’s censorship laws. The Front agrees wholeheartedly with more lenient libel laws since it believes that libel is too often a weapon used by powerful political and business interests to intimidate journalists exposing their wrongdoing. Despite this important reform of repressive laws the Front promises to keep vigilant against future threats to freedom of expression.

Stqarrija Stampa – Front Kontra ċ-Ċensura – 15/11/2017

Il-Front Kontra ċ-Ċensura jilqa’ b’sodisfazzjon il-fatt li l-Gvern aċċetta l-maġġoranza tal-proposti tiegħu dwar l-Abbozz ta’ Ligi dwar il-Midja u l-Malfama.

Meta fi Frar li għadda l-Gvern ħareġ Abbozz ta’ Liġi sabiex jemenda il-Liġi tal-Istampa, il-Front Kontra ċ-Ċensura kien irreaġixxa billi oppona dan l-abbozz fuq diversi punti. Minn Marzu li għadda l-Gvern beda diskussjonijiet intensivi mal-Front Kotnra ċ-Ċensura bil-għan li jinltaħaq ftehim fuq l-abbozz. Illum nistgħu ngħidu b’sodisfazzjon li dawn id-diskussjonijiet u x-xogħol estensiv li għamel il-Front f’dan ir-rigward sarraf fil-qbil tal-Gvern mal-maġġoranza tal-proposti tal-Front.

Il-proposti tal-Front li ġew aċċettati u li sejrin jidhru fl-abbozz il-ġdid huma dawn li ġejjin:

1. It-tneħħija tal-Libell Kriminali u l-Inġurja Kriminali. Każijiet ta’ Libell u Inġurja sejrin jibdew jinstemgħu biss f’Qorti Ċivili.

2. Id-danni li jistgħu jintrebħu waqt Libell Ċivili sejrin jibqgħu €11,646.87 minflok jirduppjaw għal €20,000.

3. It-tneħħija tal-Libell Oxxen, li sejjer iġib fi tmiemu ir-reġim ta’ ċensura artistika.

4. Regola ta’ Pubblikazzjoni Waħdanija – storja waħda issa sejra toħloq kawża ta’ libell waħda biss.

5. Protezzjoni tas-Sors Universali – l-awturi kollha issa sejrin igawdu mill-protezzjoni tas-sorsi.

6. Mhux sejrin jingħataw mandati ta’ sekwestru fejn jidħlu kawżi ta’ Libell u Inġurja.

7. Il-Liġi dwar l-Użu Mhux Xieraq ta’ Apparat Elettroniku mhux sejra tapplika aktar fejn jidħlu l-kawżi ta’ Libell u Inġurja.

8. Ir-Reġistrazzjoni tas-siti mhux sejra tkun obbligatorja.

9. Il-kritika lejn il-President mhux sejra tibqa’ offiża kriminali.

10. Aġġornament tal-Liġijiet Kolonjali tas-Sedizzjoni.

Dawn ir-riformi huma pass kbir ‘il quddiem, għaliex ikomplu jżarmaw u jtaffu l-liġijiet ta’ ċensura f’pajjiżna, b’mod speċjali fejn jidħlu il-liġijiet tal-libell. Il-Front Kontra ċ-Ċensura jaqbel li l-liġijiet tal-libell għandhom ikunu anqas ħorox għaliex ħafna drabi dawn huma arma b’saħħitha li tintuża minn politiċi u negozjanti kbar kontra dawk il-ġurnalisti li jikxfu l-imġieba ħażina tagħhom. Minkejja din ir-riforma importanti fejn jidħlu dawn il-liġijiet ripressivi, il-Front iwiegħed li sejjer jibqa’ attent għal kull theddid ieħor lejn il-liberta’ tal-espressjoni li tista’ titfaċċa fil-ġejjieni.