One of Justice Minister Clemente (“Clemency”) Mastella’s most pressing concerns since he got into power has been to get his hands on illegal and legal wiretappers and prevent the wording of transcribed conversatons getting into into the press. As early as the 27th June last year he was asking for…. “adequate fines for newspapers who illegally publish documents which are under “investigative secrecy”. The Bill has already been approved by the Camera dei Deputati. If the law passes in the Senate, journalists will have to pay heavier fines for publishing documents which are “secret” or information which has been gained by illegal means and shouldn’t be published. Marco Travaglio, one of the most outspoken critics of the new Bill, has declared that he would rather go to prison than submit to this type of censorship.
Antonio di Pietro, ex “Clean Hands” prosecutor, is also understandably enraged by the Bill, which would effectively make it illegal for newspaper to provide their readers with inside information about dirty dealings of politicians and bankers. He will vote against the government.
Both opposition and government are behind the new law, not surprisingly, because sleazy dealings involve left, right and centre. With few exceptions, MP’s, across the board always challenge the application of the law when their own personal interests are threatened.
The “Gagging” Bill is now back in the Law Commision of the Senate where it is being revised, especially in the part concerning the publication of information on wiretapping and criminal investigation.
A delegation from the National Union of Journalists recently presented technical and legal documentation to representatives of the Law Commission, as well as proposed modifications to the Bill and over a thousand signatures of journalists from all over Italy. They requested that all possible steps be taken to avoid placing a stranglehold on investigative journalism. The meeting seems to have gone well, and Senator Casson apparently shared the journalists’ concerns about the kind of censorship being built into the new law. He said that he hoped that a better balance could be achieved between the individual’s right to privacy and the right of the public to free access to information.
We will wait and see.
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