The National Parliament approved in general terms the Press Law which had been discussed on March 11th. After having been approved at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers on August 6th 2013, this Draft Law, which had been subsequently submitted to discussion in National Parliament, was voted in general terms, getting 49 votes in favour, 1 abstention and no vote against.
The Secretary of State for Media, Nélio Isaac Sarmento, showed himself to be satisfied with the result: “The Press Law was approved in general terms by all the political parties with no vote against and just one abstention, which is a very positive result after so many years (2007-2013) working together with journalists’ associations on the draft of the law”.
Nélio Isaac Sarmento further recalled that “Timor-Leste is a democratic nation and has in its Constitution the articles 40th and 41st, defining freedom of expression and information and freedom of press and of the media. With this law, the Government aims to ensure these same rights and protecting them from the interference of political and economic power”.
The Press Law will still be under discussion in specialty at the National Parliament.