When prominent UDP figure Alberto August was charged on Sunday for using "a computer system to disseminate a false statement" against Police Minister Oscar Mira - it launched an entire national debate over what is cyberbullying and what is legitimate satire of a public official.
And today the Prime Minister made it clear where he stands; and not surprisingly that is at the side of his Minister of Home Affairs.
The PM told the press that Mira has every right to use the cyberbullying law against a political critic. Here's the sometimes testy exchange:
Jo-
"What do you think of the charge that Oscar Mira brought against Alberto August? Did you get involved and in getting him out of detention and should you have done that?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well I don't think I have to give you an account of everything I do so let me start with that and I say that with the deepest of respect. But more importantly I think that Oscar Mira also is a citizen and if he feels that someone is slandering him he has every right to go and make a report and so he made the report which is his constitutional right and then the police picked up Mr August. I don't know the entire details and he got bail on Sunday."
Jo-
"Alberto August makes posts about you every single day. Have you ever thought about bringing cyberbullying charges against him?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Alberto August wouldn't take a time of my efforts in dealing with him, he can say whatever the hell he wants it doesn't bother me a bit."
Reporter-
"So is Mr Oscar Mira thin-skinned to be a politician?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No absolutely not, we are all different, we are all different and sometimes we do need to take a stance. Maybe I should consider you know taking out lawsuits against Alberto August or maybe I should have all PUP's to take out law suits for him, so maybe..."
Reporter-
"But lawsuits pm? You don't send the police after them to deprive them of their freedom."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It is not a lawsuit. He made a report and then the police brings them in and they do an investigation as you know and the police can hold you I think up to 48 hours for the charge it just so happened that it happened on the weekend and I think they couldn't get somebody to.. well they couldn't get somebody to, well the charges were not finished until Sunday and then they were released."
Reporter-
"But PM that is why we have defamation laws. Don't you feel that we are going down a slippery slope setting a very ugly precedent to be using cyber crime legislation intended for other things thatn politicians coming after people for criticism and satire."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No no I don't think that is true. You think what Alberto August does is satire? Lets get that straight."
Reporter-
"He said "Mira said that"."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"He quoted he had it in quotes."
Reporter-
"So if they can say "I am going to say this in the prime minister's voice" it doesn't mean the prime minister said it sir."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"The thing is that, what Alberto August did is disgusting to take an opportunity when a family is grieving and to imply or quote whatever it is that he did of what the minister said and the minister felt aggrieved because he knows this family. He is friends with the family as he explained to me the doctor was good friends with his brother. One did engineering and one did medicine. And so for him now to use this for political gain I think it is despicable on his part. So I think Oscar Mira has every right to be able to make a report against him under the cyberbullying law."
