Mandel: Estonian press freedom at risk
18.03.2010, 13:06Commenting the decision of Estonian newspapers today to publish empty front pages in protest against a draft law sent to the Estonian parlament today, Meelis Mandel, the editor in chief of Äripäev, said that the important daily newspapers want to draw attention to a draft law that according to numerous sources would weaken the protection for sources of journalists.
“The law – if passed – will allow the arrest of investigative journalists and force them to disclose the names of their sources,” said Mandel, adding that it would also make it possible for the courts to impose fines on publishers based on the sole suspicion that newspapers have the intention to publish potentially harmful information, before investigative articles even appear.
“Estonia currently holds a high position in world press freedom rankings. Passing this law would throw Estonia shamefully backwards,” says Meelis Mandel.
Recently Dirk Voorhoof, a European expert on media law and freedom of expression and media law professor at the University of Gent, visited Estonia and analysed the draft. In its present form, the draft law does not meet the aim of source protection, contrary to what its name says, Voorhoof said to Estonian newspaper Eesti Paevaleht. “The draft law provides extensive exceptions which allow to ignore the principle of source protection and force journalists to disclose their sources. These exceptions do not in any way meet the aim stipulated in the name of the law which is to protect the sources,” Voorhoof noted.