Angola The Press Law of 2006 provided for a number of subsidiary statutes and decrees to govern the media. These have now been enacted as laws in own right. Chief among these are the Law on the Exercise of the Activity of Television Broadcasting, Law on the Exercise of the Activity of Radio Broadcasting, the Law on the Statute of the Journalist and – most importantly – the “Carteira de Jornalista”, the licence to practice journalism. In the event of any journalist found working without being licenced, the employing media house can be punished with a fine equivalent to ten median public service salaries. The fine triples in the case of a repeat violation. The new law also makes it illegal for journalists to work as public relations professionals, a common practice in Luanda, often with conflicting interests. In terms of the new Press Law, journalists can face disciplinary, civil and criminal sanctions, with fines of between USD 600 and USD 120,000 if found guilty of violating the law. The new law even criminalises the publication of images, such as cartoons, that can be deemed “offensive to individuals”. Once the new set of laws comes into effect, media practitioners will have 90 days in which to comply. MISA-Angola expressed its displeasure at the fact that the new law empowers the Communications Minister to stop any broadcasting without any contestation mechanism or review process. Another issue that has raised eyebrows is the hefty amount of USD 210,000 required to start a new agency. Oddly enough, in a region where media freedom organisations have been fighting to remove all obstacles to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, in Angola key people among journalists are actually in favour of licencing journalists, as they see in it the means to raise profession standards. Among those are the Sindicato dos Jornalistas, the journalists’ professional union. On previous occasions sections of Angolan journalists have defended state regulation of the media, pointing to Portugal as an example where it works well, with all the elements that the new swathe of laws seeks to implement, including minimum tertiary education levels (possibly a “licenciatura” [Master’s Degree]) to be allowed to practice journalism. At its 4th Congress held in September, the Sindicato voted to focus its efforts on ensuring the approval of Journalists’ Statute, and the creation of Licencing and Ethics Commission. The Sindicato bemoans the fact that after 35 years of independence, Angolan journalists do not have a professional licencing regimen. By contrast, MISA-Angola has decried the creation of ERCA. A veteran Angolan journalist expressed the view that journalists should pressure the government to enact the full range of media legislation. He accused politicians of pointing fingers at the work of journalists, while they are the ones who are hindering the implementation of media regulation. At the time of the approval of the bill in general terms in August, opposition members voted against, citing a number of violations of precepts in the constitution, which they labelled setbacks to rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution. They also argued that it had been drafted without any involvement from journalists. However, the Sindicato expressed its satisfaction with the openness to dialogue and with the way their concerns had been taken on board. However, it said it was against criminal liability, which it believed was designed to intimidate journalists. It further said that the bill contained provisions that were at odds with the constitution. The MPLA maintains that the text is a compromise to ensure the realisation of citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees. It is important not to confuse ‘licenc- So This is Democracy? 2016 15