DIVIDE AND RULE
Support A1+!The Armenian bill on “Mass Information” made solidarity and unity among those working in Media sphere and the representatives of other fields disappear.
It turns that discord and clamour over the bill may pursue other purposes. Yerevan Press Club and “Internews” social organisation’ leaders think so. They fear for the turmoil on the bill to be stirred up by an order to distract journalists from more urgent issues and passing of laws.
Of course, this point of view is probable. But there is one more stance: If 2 parts debate over a concrete issue, the 3rd one profits as a result of it. One of the debating sides on the given point is Press National Club, which opposes the Law on “Mass Information”, considering it to endanger “speech freedom”.
Yerevan Press Club, Armenia’s Union of Journalists, “Internews” organisation and the Committee on Protection of Speech Freedom hold the other side.
They insist that the alternative bill on “Mass Information”, worked by PNC and to be suggested by initiative of “Justice” bloc, is inferior to the criticised one offered by Justice Ministry, which was approved in Parliament at the first stage.
The criticised law on “Mass Information” was approved in Parliament by the first stage providing that the numerous shortcomings in the bill are eliminated before the second one. The atmosphere in the information field may hamper it, causing the ordinary omissions.
It’s now hard to say clearly who and for what purposes masterminds political intrigues. But it is beyond controversy if such a climate keeps prevailing, the reforms promised might not be fully carried out. It will lead to that the imperfect Law on “Mass Information” will be added to the incomplete Law on “Television and Radio”.
