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C o l o m b i a 22. LEGISLATIVE BILLS THAT WOULD AFFECT
THE PRESS There is a trend in the National Congress to impose obstacles
to freedom of the press through the introduction of articles to
limit such freedom (for instance, Article 33 of the Statute Against
Corruption.) On the other hand, the government still has to regulate several
articles of the Constitution that refer to freedom of the press,
freedom of expression and other provisions that may affect the press
in the future. Legislation being proposed would re-establish the requirement
for a journalist to possess a professional carnet. The draft law
would allow for a right to information petition when a reporter
is denied a public document. A judge or court would have to rule
within 72 hours of receiving such a petition. The proposal would
also establish a series of fines payable by those who commit crimes
via a mass medium, without prejudice of any sanctions established
in the Criminal Code. In the case of libel or slander, news generated
by trials or legal actions underway or concluded may not be invoked
as exempting or mitigating circumstances. Specialized legal publications
would be exempt from this restriction, provided they did not particularize
interested parties.
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