U.S. ‘Saddened’ by New S. Africa Curbs
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WASHINGTON — The United States is saddened by new restrictions imposed by the South African government on press freedom, the State Department said Friday.
The measures, announced Thursday, empower the government to shut down publications considered to be promoting anti-government propaganda.
State Department deputy spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said:
“We are saddened to see that the South African government does not trust its own citizens with information about the happenings of their country.
“Restricting its media is not merely a punishment for journalists; its end result is to rob citizens of their right to be informed. We’re sorry to note the action further removes South Africa from the Western values to which it professes to adhere,” Oakley said.
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