After around eight months of negotiations, the Dominican government and the Dominican Newspaper Society (SDD) have reached a consensus on amendments to the National Intelligence Agency (DNI) Law, which had been criticized for infringing on freedom of the press. The SDD was critical of several ambiguities in the law that creates the new centralized intelligence agency.
A joint commission, composed of journalists, civil society representatives, business leaders, government officials, and legal experts, has agreed on modifications to several articles of the law, including those related to the protection of journalistic sources. The objective is to safeguard journalistic freedom.
“We have managed to build a version that corrects the ambiguities of the law,” said Persio Maldonado Sánchez, president of the SDD. The agreement, reached after a final lengthy meeting at the Listín Diario headquarters, will be submitted to the Executive Branch for approval.
Key points of the agreement include:
• Protection of journalistic sources: The revised law explicitly states that the DNI must respect the confidentiality of journalistic sources.
• Judicial oversight: The DNI’s activities will now require prior judicial authorization.
• Alignment with the Constitution: The amendments aim to bring the law into greater compliance with the Dominican Constitution, particularly regarding the rights to privacy, honor, and freedom of expression.
Antoliano Peralta, the Presidency’s legal advisor, emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing concerns raised by the public and the media. “If there is a suggestion that something can be improved or clarified, we are willing to accept it,” Peralta said.
The Presidency needs to submit the amended law to the National Congress for consideration in the coming days.
The DNI Law, enacted earlier this year, had faced legal challenges from various sectors of society, including the Dominican Bar Association and human rights organizations. Critics argued that the law granted the DNI excessive powers and could be used to stifle dissent and violate fundamental rights.
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El Nuevo Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
12 September 2024