World Press Freedom Day
Today is celebrated the World Press Freedom Day. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste takes pride, in 2010, of having taken steady steps towards the strengthening of this fundamental right, essential for the development of the democratic process within this young country.
In fact, the Media National Policy (MNP) was approved at 24th March, being drafted in accordance with articles 40 and 41 of the Constitution, which provides regarding speech and press freedoms. That document includes a strong array of actions and principles on the access to information, regulation and ethics, the defense of official languages, journalists’ training, the development of the Radio e Televisão de Timor-Leste (RTTL) – Radio and Television of Timor-Leste - and the support to community radios.
In the same field, cooperating initiatives have been planed with some international entities and agencies, with particular emphasis for the Memorandum of Understanding to be entered with the Instituto Português de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento- Portuguese Institute for Development Aid - and the Rádio e Televisão Portuguesa – Portuguese Radio and Television - with the purpose of developing a sound service to be performed by RTTL while public company.
Until the end of 2010, the Secretary of State of the Council of Ministers, as the competent Government body, has the main aim of laying down a strict implementation plan of the measures to be adopted concerning the MNP.
Also, as a way of ensuring revenues to RTTL without compromising its editorial freedom, the State Secretary for the Council of Ministers shall submit briefly to the Council of Ministers a legal draft on advertising.
All those working and promoting this important national media sector, journalists and media organizations alike, ought to be congratulated for yet another year of hard work towards the development of Timor-Leste.
