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Archbishop Tutu condemns South Africa 'secrecy bill' | Archbishop Tutu condemns South Africa 'secrecy bill' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu has strongly condemned a new media law, which South African MPs are set to vote on shortly. | Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu has strongly condemned a new media law, which South African MPs are set to vote on shortly. |
He called it "insulting" and warned it could be used to outlaw "whistle-blowing and investigative journalism". | He called it "insulting" and warned it could be used to outlaw "whistle-blowing and investigative journalism". |
South African journalists wearing black have staged a protest against the so-called "secrecy bill" outside the headquarters of the governing ANC. | South African journalists wearing black have staged a protest against the so-called "secrecy bill" outside the headquarters of the governing ANC. |
The ANC says the law will safeguard state secrets and national security. | |
The African National Congress has a two-thirds majority in parliament and so the bill is expected to pass, unless the party leadership has a last-minute change of mind. | The African National Congress has a two-thirds majority in parliament and so the bill is expected to pass, unless the party leadership has a last-minute change of mind. |
The Protection of State Information Bill proposes tough sentences of up to 25 years on anyone possessing classified government documents, with no defence of acting in the public interest. | |
The BBC's Karen Allen says the bill's critics see it as an assault on a vigorous media, which has drawn attention to allegations of corruption by senior ANC officials. | |
President Jacob Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj has recently filed a lawsuit against South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper - preventing it from publishing information linking him to href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14939077" title="Link to a BBC article about the arms deal" >a controversial arms 1999 deal. | |
The South African media broke the story using secret documents, but under the new law, journalists and their editors could face stiff jail sentences for similar disclosures, correspondents say. | |
Although some elements of the bill have been watered down following protests, some say it breaks South Africa's liberal constitution. | |
Secrecy 'saves lives' | |
On the eve of the vote, Archbishop Tutu appealed to lawmakers not to approve the bill. | On the eve of the vote, Archbishop Tutu appealed to lawmakers not to approve the bill. |
He said it was "insulting to all South Africans to be asked to stomach legislation that could be used to outlaw whistle-blowing and investigative journalism... and that makes the state answerable only to the state". | |
South African Nobel prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer has also condemned the bill, which she said was taking South Africa back to the years of white minority rule, the Johannesburg-based Times Live news site reports. | South African Nobel prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer has also condemned the bill, which she said was taking South Africa back to the years of white minority rule, the Johannesburg-based Times Live news site reports. |
The bill was was "totally against" freedom, she said. | The bill was was "totally against" freedom, she said. |
"The corrupt practices and nepotism that they [politicians] allow themselves is exposed if we have freedom of expression," Ms Gordimer is quoted as saying. | "The corrupt practices and nepotism that they [politicians] allow themselves is exposed if we have freedom of expression," Ms Gordimer is quoted as saying. |
South Africa's National Press Club (NPC) - backed by the Right2Know campaign group - has called on people to wear black and dubbed the day of the vote "Black Tuesday" in a reference to apartheid-era press restrictions. | South Africa's National Press Club (NPC) - backed by the Right2Know campaign group - has called on people to wear black and dubbed the day of the vote "Black Tuesday" in a reference to apartheid-era press restrictions. |
It has called for protests outside in parliament in Cape Town, as well as Johannesburg. | It has called for protests outside in parliament in Cape Town, as well as Johannesburg. |
All major newspaper have published editorials condemning the proposed measures. | |
However, the ANC has rejected the criticism, saying the bill meets international standards and secrecy is sometimes needed to save lives. | |
"You cannot compare the situation that existed under the draconian and inhumane apartheid [regime] with legislation proposed by a democratic parliament elected by a majority of the people of South Africa," said Chief whip Mathole Motshega. | "You cannot compare the situation that existed under the draconian and inhumane apartheid [regime] with legislation proposed by a democratic parliament elected by a majority of the people of South Africa," said Chief whip Mathole Motshega. |
South Africa's restrictive media laws were overturned when it became a democracy in 1994. | South Africa's restrictive media laws were overturned when it became a democracy in 1994. |
Archbishop Tutu won a Nobel Peace Prize for his opposition to white minority rule but has recently become a vocal critic of the ANC government. | Archbishop Tutu won a Nobel Peace Prize for his opposition to white minority rule but has recently become a vocal critic of the ANC government. |