Federation of Journalists of Peru expressed his “categorical” rejection of the bill, which executive branch sent to Congress of the Republic which authorizes the dissemination of classified information in a tax investigation.
“We reject and condemn this type of journalistic coercion and blackmail of those who tell the truth. This bill will harm the work of investigative journalism if it is approved in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly,” they said.
In a statement, the journalists’ union expressed its support for the freedom Information, opinion and expression “in all its forms”. In that sense, they warned that the bill “provides for penalties of up to four years’ imprisonment.”
“This bill is designed to minimize investigative journalism and leave the truth as the main principle of the press, qualify it as a criminal offense and prosecute in its highest form. In addition, corrupt actions of the current government cannot be detected. easily, with this legal premise that would prevent the right to Information“, they pointed out.
“On the part of the FPP, he denounces these kinds of legal tricks that he wants to manage and manipulate in the style of totalitarian governments,” the statement said.
Attack on press freedom
Last Friday, Prime Minister Anibal Torres announced that they had presented before Congress a draft law establishing the offense of disclosure of tax information in criminal cases.
“A bill has been passed that makes it a crime to disclose confidential information in a criminal investigation. A criminal investigation is confidential at its preliminary stage. It ceases to be confidential when it proceeds to an oral trial. There it is public and exists without reservations,” he said. at a press conference.
Hannibal Torres argued that such disclosure should be avoided reserved information and specified that the sanction would be four years in prison.
“Currently, it happens that in the course of investigations, classified information is quickly brought to the attention of the public. Sometimes information is selected for the purpose of incriminating the commission of crimes. Congress bill to stop this form of practical commercialization of classified criminal information,” he said.
This bill was announced in advance by Justice Minister Felix Chereau on 13 June. The head of Minzhus assured that the measure was aimed at “protecting” the presumption of innocence of those under investigation. In this sense, he stressed that “in no case” will journalists be forced to disclose their sources.
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Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.