Attacks on press freedom

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 9

Attacks on press freedom

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) JERUSALEM, June 14. Singapore and Greece were among countries criticised for restricting press freedom by the twenty-second general assembly of the International Press Institute (1.P.1.) todav. I The institute, concluding this year’s assembly, passed a series of resolutions concerning press freedoms in Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippnes, Chile, and Greece.

One resolution expressed concern over the actions ot Singapore’s Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew) against ! the press and cited the case > of a newspaper publisher, r Lee Eu Seng, imprisoned last ) February as the latest / epi- . sode in continuing attacks on I the press. The assembly expressed , indignation over continued pressure on and intimidation [of journalists in Greece, and it expressed concern over the I threat of governmental con--1 trol in the production and . distribution of newsprint in Chile. Tn a resolution on the ■ Philippines, the assembly . deplored the situation facing

the press there and protested againist the suppression ot its freedom by President Ferdinand Marcos. The 1.P.1. pledged its strong support for fellow journalists in the Philippines and declared that by suppressing press freedom, President Marcos had damaged the reputation of his country’ as a free and democratic nation.’ The assembly also registered deep concern over the future of the Sri Lanka press. It criticised the formation of a Government-appointed Press Council and the passing of a law which gives it full powers to impose prohi-

I bitions and penalties on the t press and journalists. ’ It also censured a special bill involving Associated ; Newspapers of Ceylon and i considered this bill might 1 result in the control of an ; independent company falling : into Government hands. The! : resolution described the bill ; as a dangerous precedent. .! The 1.P.1. re-elected Mr L.' ■ Ijakande of Nigeria as chairi'man and Mr Ranald Maci Donald of Australia as vicechairman. i It decided to hold its 1974 [ assembly in Kyoto, Japan, and the 1975 assembly in ’ Lagos. The 1976 assembly ■ will be held in the United ■ States.