Conditional permission for public assembly

The conditions limiting peaceful demonstration under the new charter include: protecting national security; protecting public safety; maintaining law and order; maintaining good morals of people; protecting public health; and protecting other people’s rights and liberty. It will also be stipulated that freedom of assembly can only be exercised when absolutely necessary.

As for academic freedom to criticise court verdicts, the CDC agreed to protect honest analysis and criticism in accordance with academic principles. 

As for access to basic education, the charter drafters decided to defer the decision in relation to what should be done with the state’s obligation to commit a certain amount of funding on a per-person basis for basic education, saying that well-to-do citizens may not need this funding. 

In relation to creating a media association, the CDC added one explicit role for these associations – they need to consider complaints made by those already affected by the mass media. 

As for the dissemination of media broadcasting frequencies, the charter drafters chose to adapt Article 47 of the abrogated 2007 charter. Under the new charter, the principles of free and fair competition and access to quality media for all will be taken into consideration in terms of broadcast media and telecommunications fees. This would ensure that maintaining low costs for consumers would take priority over profits for state and private firms. 

Charter drafters insisted that public benefit should come first and that they hoped to see a lower cost of entry in state-organised auctions for those wanting to operate broadcast media by obtaining media frequencies. 

The CDC noted that previously, making profits for the state was the sole goal and it was done without consideration as to how this was done and how much those who obtained a licence could charge the end consumers. 

The one debate that went unsettled among the charter drafters was the clause on preventing media proprietors from dominating and monopolising news presentation, which might affect citizens’ right to information. The drafters have decided to discuss this matter at a later date.