Argentina: Hundreds protest outside Buenos Aires congress over media censorship fears

[Judi Lynn]

Argentina: Hundreds protest outside Buenos Aires congress over media censorship fears
James Lillywhite
By Video by James Lillywhite
December 18, 2015 13:49 GMT


Hundreds of people have protested outside Argentina's congress amid fears of censorship and media monopoly. Protesters gathered in Buenos Aires on 17 December to demand the new president, Mauricio Macri, and his government reconsider proposed reforms that could lead to private organisations taking control of the country's mass media.

They say they are worried about censorship in Argentina if the anti-monopoly laws are loosened or repealed, and demanded that the president keeps the rules against market concentration.

Martin Sabetella, director of the Federal Authority of Audiovisual Communication Services (AFSCA) watchdog – which is in charge of enforcing the legislation – said: "We have come here to defend the audiovisual communications law, which is a tool to ensure freedom of expression, a plurality of voices, to guarantee a deep democracy that is enriched by all voices.

"There is no true democracy without a democracy that's true to its word. And there is no democracy true to its word if the drive of companies is not limited, which harms the freedom of expression. We have come to also confront what is happening. And that is an attempt to violate the laws and the constitution which advances the rights we've gained."

More:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/argentina-hundreds-protest-outside-buenos-aires-congress-over-media-censorship-fears-1534030

[Judi Lynn]

1. Mass protest in Argentina against new Macri govt

Mass protest in Argentina against new Macri govt
December 18, 2015 7:40 pm

BUENOS AIRES: Tens of thousands of protesters rallied outside Congress late Thursday against President Mauricio Macri, a mere week after the conservative politician took office as Argentina’s new president.

Macri has taken a series of measures reversing the leftist policies of former president Cristina Kirchner (2007-2015), which include ending currency controls — resulting in the peso quickly loosing 30 percent of its value. Kirchner’s Peronist bloc is especially angered by Macri’s use of a decree to fill two Supreme Court vacancies, circumventing approval in the Senate where the opposition has a majority.

Marching in the crowd was Daniel Scioli, the Kirchner-supported candidate Macri defeated in the November election with 51 to 49 percent. “I came because it seemed to me very important to support the position of the (Peronist) bloc that institutional procedures for naming judges is respected,” Scioli said.

The rally was originally called to support a controversial news media anti-monopoly law approved under Kirchner in 2009, which Macri opposes.

More:
http://www.manilatimes.net/mass-protest-in-argentina-against-new-macri-govt/235090/