WPFC-FH Protests Approval of Bill Regulating Argentina’s Newsprint Industry

Washington, USA, Dec. 23, 2011 — The World Press Freedom Committee of Freedom House (www.wpfc.org) —an organization bringing together 43 press freedom groups from throughout the world— protests adoption yesterday by the Argentine Congress of a law to regulate the manufacturing, commercialization and distribution of newsprint as a clear violation of the American Convention on Human Rights.

The Aug. 27, 2010 Bill, passed yesterday by the Senate following the House of Representatives’ approval, declares “the manufacturing, commercialization and distribution of newsprint as a matter of public interest.” The measure allows the State to become the majority stockholder of Papel Prensa S.A. —the only company of its kind in Argentina— and, unprecedentedly, to take over a private entity without previous consultation with its stockholders or owners.

“This initiative is a violation of Art. 32 of the Argentine Constitution and of Art. 13.3 of the American Convention on Human Rights,” said Javier Sierra, WPFC-FH’s projects director. “The measure, as part of years of official harassment against the news media perceived as critical of the government, will clearly allow the State to influence arbitrarily the distribution of a material essential to the existence of a free and independent press in Argentina.”

Art. 13.3 of the American Convention establishes that, “The right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private control over newsprint […] or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinion.”

Also, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, an inter-American document  Argentina has also signed, holds that, “Prior censorship, direct or indirect interference in or pressure exerted upon any expression […] must be prohibited by law.”

In its 2010 Annual Report, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, aware of the severity of the bill at the time being debated in the Argentine Congress, expected that, “Given their notable importance for the exercise of freedom of expression, the matters mentioned herein are resolved in keeping with international standards on the subject.”

The hopes of the Office of the Special Rapporteur and those of the world press freedom movement were dashed yesterday by the Argentine Congress. Under these circumstances, our Committee urges the government of President Cristina Fernández, the promoter of this legislation, to exercise extreme caution so that these new State powers do not turn into a toll of censorship.