East Timor Media Act

EDM number 375 in 2014-15, proposed by John Leech on 20/10/2014.
Categorised under the topics of Asia, International politics and government and Press.

That this House notes that the East Timor (Timor-Leste) Parliament has voted to create a Media Act governing press freedoms; further notes that this bans outlets from employing journalists who have not been approved by a government-funded panel; further notes that it would require all foreign journalists to submit to the approval of this panel before entering the country; recognises that these provisions amount to dramatic restrictions on the freedom of the press in East Timor; further notes that Article 41 of the East Timor Constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of the press; further notes that the President and Court of Appeal of East Timor have both found the law to be unconstitutional; further notes that the Parliament is now required to revise or withdraw the law; therefore condemns this law and supports the call of the National Union of Journalists and International Federation of Journalists for the Government to make representations to East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão stressing the need to respect the right of journalists to freedom of expression guaranteed by East Timorean and international law; and urges the Parliament of East Timor to withdraw the bill immediately.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.