MEDIA REACTION ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, JANUARY 22,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000169

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/PDA (OHILTON); WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, JANUARY 22,
2004



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
on 1/24 entitled "No Access". "Within the package of
Constitutional reforms approved by Congress, there is a new
concept called Habeas Data, which was closes access to
public information, even though it isn't part of the
political agreements negotiated by the parties in Congress,
and it's still mostly unknown by the people."

"At first, the concept of Habeas Data tries to protect any
person's honor, and his or hers personal and familiar life.
However, this new Constitutional clause could have such a
wide scope that and may be subject to an anti-democratic
interpretation. For instance, it may be used to forbid the
disclosure of publications, information or opinions that
could be of interest to the population in general, but they
can't be disclosed because they might appear to damage the
particular interests of certain person or group."

"That's why this new concept has produced concern in the
population, because they feel it should have been discussed
in a more comprehensive manner, to avoid any doubt of its
content and goals."

Palmer