Rotherham MP Denis MacShane in the Guardian today calls on the Left in Britain to stop supporting Hugo Chávez after he put before the Venezuelan parliament a proposed law that would impose prison sentences of up to four years for journalists whose writings might divulge information against "the stability of the institutions of the state".
MacShane, a former NUJ president, notes that "the National Union of Journalists and Labour MPs have made pilgrimages to Caracas to buy the Chávez line." He suggests that the union should demonstrate against Chávez rather than support him.
MacShane says: "The "special law against media offences" states that journalism hostile to the "social peace, the security and independence of the nation" can be punished by prison sentences of between six months and four years.
"Journalists will also break the proposed new law if their writings are seen as an attack on public order or Venezuelans' "mental or moral health". Article 5 threatens imprisonment for "false information" that is "prejudicial to the interests of the state".
He adds: "It is hard to see how the NUJ, Ken Livingstone or Labour MPs can support a new law that silences journalism. I look forward to joining them in front of the Venezuelan embassy in London to defend free journalism in Latin America."
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