How free is the free press?

ltlee1 skrev:

B. Nice wrote:

On 29 Jan 2006 19:00:24 -0800, "ltlee1" wrote:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/
8808AC96-0809-4BE8-98E2-ED963AE8FDE4.htm
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Denmark PM rejects apology demand

Monday 30 January 2006, 2:57 Makka Time, 23:57 GMT

Denmark's prime minister has said his government cannot act against
satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed after Libya closed its
embassy in Copenhagen amid growing Muslim anger over the dispute.

[...]

"Islam considers images of prophets disrespectful and caricatures of
them blasphemous.

Since Jyllands-Posten published the drawings in September, the Danish
government has repeatedly defended the right of free speech.

"The government can in no way could influence the media. And the Danish
government and the Danish nation as such cannot be held responsible for
what is published in independent media," Fogh Rasmussen said."

[...]

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How true is the above statement by Fogh Rasmussen?

"How true" - You mean on a scale from 0 to 100 or what???
In that case it's a 100 of course.

Unlike in many middle east countries for example the danish government
has no power to control the media. Anyone who feels offended by the
media is free to take the matter to court.

I understand that the government does not control the press. But the
above, if translated correctly, is the government has no influence. To
me, it is unbelievable.

Do you think that the government cannot make a statement expressing its
view on such matter? Statecraft is soulcraft. If a gvoernment cannot
influence its people and organizations and people, how can one expect
it to have any influence internationally.

No. I don't buy your answer that it's a 100 case.

You are 100% correct! Although the government cannot in any way
*control* the media, the Prime Minister is giving the impression
that a *statement* from the government should be directly
*un-constitutional* - which is NOT true. His motives are
political, although at the same time supported by a majority of
danes.


--
Mogens Michaelsen
http://mogmichs.blogspot.com/