Focus of the weeks.

FXI calls for books to be freed

The Freedom of Expression Institute would like to express shock on the number of books that South Africans can not access because of the gap that exist between the current legislation and ban put on them during apartheid.

There are approximately 18 000 titles that the South African public have no access to because they are on the list of the banned books drawn by the apartheid government. The titles are contained in a 560-page document called Jacobson with at least 30 titles on each page.

While the FXI welcomes the announcement by the Film and Publication Board on its removing of the Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie from the list of the banned books the FXI is however concerned by the fact that there are still thousand of books that South Africans can not access. It is totally unacceptable that in a democratic country whose constitution protects the right of the individual to receive information and to express themselves that thousand of books are out of public’s reach because of a gap in the legislature.

In South Africa illiteracy is high and many people have no access to books. The barring of thousand of books from reaching the public is a further impediment in fighting illiteracy and contrary to government’s claim for it commitment to eradicate illiteracy.

Unlike television programmes readers of books choose which books to read at their own place and time and for that reason books my be liberated so that the individuals can decide for themselves.

Iyavar Chetty Legal Advisor of the Film and Publication Board says the only books that are effectively banned are those that contains child pornography.

He said the only reason why those books can not reach the public is that although the constitution does not recognize this limitation, these book can only be made available once someone applied from the to be removed from the list.

While the Film and Publication Board argues that the Film and Publication Acts of 1996 freed most of the book and that all people only needs to apply in order to get particular book removed from the banned list. The fact remains that several book are out of reach of many South Africans.

Although the Publication of 1974 was scrapped and replaced by the more progressive of 1996 that saw the birth Film and Publication Board. The fact remain that the government is aware of this problem and should able to pass legislation that closes the gap in a way that liberates these books.

The government should also note that blaming the past regime from the current problems that can be solved does not advance the political and social development of a democratic society. Something must be done.

Weekly Diary

Either Peace and Reconciliation or Freedom of Expression

The dispute between the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the management of KwaMuhle Museum in Durban over an exhibition, open another important debate in South Africa that of whether to sacrifice freedom of expression for reconciliation and peace.

According to the Mail and Guardian the IFP argues that the exhibition titled Amasinyora and Comrades, maliciously and libellously links the IFP to political violence in KwaZulu Natal. The IFP added that the exhibition was not in the interest of peace and reconciliation. The IFP is therefore calling for the withdrawal of the exhibition on those grounds.

While the distortion of historical facts for political gains is totally an unacceptable practice, the IFP should however note that it is only the truth that promotes peace and reconciliation. Refusing to represent historical facts either artistically or otherwise or refusal to debate history is in itself a perpetuation of violence and hatred.

Zimbabwean situation continues to deteriorate In Zimbabwe the situation around press freedom continues to deteriorate with the parliament passing the controversial Access to Information and Privacy Bill.

Critics say the Bill will prevent ownership of media by non-Zimbabweans. Foreign journalists will have to be accredited in order to enter and report from Zimbabwe. Local journalists will also have to be registered, licensed and get certified by the Ministry of Information and State Publicity.

The Bill has been seen as another way by President Robert Mugabe’s regime to repress the private and foreign press that has been highly critical on his government.