Many journalists are in uproar over the proposed law which was thrown open for debate six weeks ago.
The CPJ stressed that an adequate press law should aim to protect rather than punish critical journalism. The 19-page draft bill includes 81 articles, of which Angolan journalists have criticised too many to list. Among the most worrying, however, article 57 guarantees presidential immunity to criticism. Article 78 allows the authorities the right to decide who can be a journalist. Article 25 gives the authorities the power to seize or ban publications at their discretion.