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world news Diamars 28 December 2021

Polish president vetoes media bill that targeted US company

(AP) — Poland’s presi- 49% stake in television or ra-
dent on Monday vetoed dio broadcasters in Poland. Yet many Poles saw the bill as
a media bill that would an attempt to silence a broad-
have forced U.S. company Its practical effect would caster with an all-news sta-
Discovery to give up its have targeted only one exist- tion, TVN24, and an evening
controlling share in Polish ing company, Discovery Inc., news program on its main
television network TVN. forcing the U.S. owner of channel viewed by millions.
Poland’s largest private tele-
For many, it was a victory for vision network, TVN, to sell Mass nationwide protests
freedom of speech and me- the majority or even all of its were recently held in support
dia independence in a coun- Polish holdings. of the station and of free-
try where democratic norms dom of speech more broadly.
are being challenged by the The ruling party, Law and Donald Tusk, the leader of
nationalist government. The Justice, pushed the legislation the centrist Civic Platform American investment in Po- port such legislation that
veto was also expected to be and argued that it was impor- opposition party who spoke land and the company now would affect future invest-
welcomed by Washington, tant for national security and at that demonstration, said puts TVN’s value at $3 bil- ments. But he argued that
which had been seeking to sovereignty to ensure that no Duda’s decision showed the lion. in the case of TVN, the law
defend the largest U.S. in- company outside of Europe importance of pressure from would have hurt a business
vestment in Poland. can control companies that the U.S. — and pressure Duda said the bill would already operating legally in
help form public opinion. from the street. have violated the provisions Poland.
President Andrzej Duda not- of a Polish-U.S. economic
ed that the bill was unpopular Party spokeswoman Anita “Let no one say anymore treaty signed in the 1990s, He also said that he shared
with many Poles and would Czerwinska said party leaders that it is not worth it, that it and Poland could have faced the view of many of his fel-
have dealt a blow to Poland’s respect the prerogative of the is impossible, that we cannot possible penalties reaching low Poles that given other
reputation as a place to do president, who is a party ally, do anything. We can and we in the billions of dollars if he problems, including the pan-
business. but were “disappointed” in must,” Tusk said on Twitter. had signed it. demic and inflation, the bill
his decision. wasn’t necessary right now.
“Contracts have to be kept,” Discovery had threatened Duda said he agreed in prin-
Duda said at a news confer- “European countries protect to sue Poland in an interna- ciple that countries should Discovery welcomed Duda’s
ence in Warsaw where he their media market against tional arbitration court, say- limit foreign ownership move, saying: “We commend
announced his veto. “For us excess foreign capital, con- ing it would fight for its in- in media companies, say- the president for doing the
Poles it is a matter of honor.” sidering this area strategic for vestment. The network was ing many other democratic right thing and standing up
security and national secu- first bought by another U.S. countries — including the for core democratic values
The bill, recently passed by rity,” Czerwinska said, argu- company, Scripps Networks United States, France and of a free press and the rule of
the lower house of parlia- ing that not protecting that Interactive, for $2 billion and Germany — have such legis- law, and we want to thank all
ment, would have prevented market would lead to “sub- later sold to Discovery. lation. the viewers and everyone that
any non-European entity mission to other states (and) has supported this important
from owning more than a their interests.” It represents the largest ever He said that he would sup- issue.”

Myanmar court postpones verdicts in 2nd case against Suu Kyi

(AP) — A court in mili- her National League for De- and spectators and the pros- party, Zaw Myint Maung, in
tary-ruled Myanmar post- mocracy party. Suu Kyi’s supporters and ecutors do not comment. another case against her in-
poned its verdicts Monday independent analysts say all Her lawyers, who had been volving alleged violation of
on two charges against The court gave no reason for the charges against her are a source of information on COVID-19 restrictions dur-
ousted leader Aung San delaying the verdicts until politically motivated and an the proceedings, were served ing last year’s election cam-
Suu Kyi in which she is Jan. 10, according to the legal attempt to discredit her and with gag orders in October. paign, the legal official said.
accused of importing and official, who insisted on ano- legitimize the military’s sei-
possessing walkie-talkies nymity for fear of being pun- zure of power while keeping A charge under the Export- Zaw Myint Maung, who
without following official ished by the authorities, who her from returning to poli- Import Law of having im- had been unable to appear in
procedures, a legal official have restricted the release of tics. If found guilty of all the properly imported the walk- court earlier for health rea-
familiar with the case said. information about Suu Kyi’s charges she faces, she could ies-talkies was the first filed sons, testified that people had
trials. be sentenced to more than against Suu Kyi and served as gathered to see her when she
The case in the court in the 100 years in prison. the initial justification for her visited Shwe Kyar Pin Ward
capital, Naypyitaw, is among Suu Kyi’s party won a land- continued detention. A sec- during the campaign because
many brought against the slide victory in last year’s Suu Kyi was convicted on ond charge of illegally pos- they respect her, and it wasn’t
76-year-old Nobel Peace general election, but the Dec. 6 on two other charges sessing the radios was filed a violation of virus restric-
Prize laureate since the army military said there was wide- — incitement and breaching the following month. tions, the official said.
seized power on Feb. 1, oust- spread electoral fraud, an as- COVID-19 restrictions —
ing her elected government sertion that independent poll and sentenced to four years’ The radios were seized from The offense falls under the
and arresting top members of watchers doubt. imprisonment. Hours after the gate of her residence and Natural Disaster Manage-
the sentence was issued, the the barracks of her body- ment Law and the maximum
head of the military-installed guards during a search on penalty is three years in pris-
government, Senior Gen. Feb. 1, the day she was ar- on and a fine.
Min Aung Hlaing, reduced it rested.
by half. She is being held by She is also being tried in the
the military at an unknown Suu Kyi’s lawyers argued that same court on five counts of
location and state television the radios were not in her corruption. The maximum
reported that she would serve personal possession and were penalty for each count is 15
her sentence there. legitimately used to help pro- years in prison and a fine. A
vide for her security, but the sixth corruption charge, in
Suu Kyi has been attend- court declined to dismiss the which Suu Kyi and ousted
ing court hearings in prison charges. President Win Myint are ac-
clothes — a white top and a cused of granting permits to
brown longyi skirt provided The court on Monday also rent and buy a helicopter, has
by the authorities. The hear- heard video testimony from not yet gone to trial.
ings are closed to the media the vice chairman of Suu Kyi’s