Journalists Vow to Fight 1017--Philippines

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com

5//The Manila Times, Philippines Monday, February 27, 2006

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/feb/27/yehey/top_stories/20060227top5.html



JOURNALISTS VOW TO FIGHT 1017

By Candice Y. Cerezo, Researcher



The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Sunday expressed alarm at the casing of publications and the surveillance of newsmen.



At a meeting in Quezon City, the group agreed to issue a single editorial questioning Presidential Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency.



“We’re very alarmed with what happened to Tribune, casing of publications, deployment of troops in TV stations,” Carlos Conde, secretary-general of NUJP said.

(SNIP)

Meanwhile, the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas said it views with apprehension the present crackdown on the media.



(SNIP)



The party said, “To restrict press freedom would be tantamount to restricting the growth of the country and its people.



“A government that fears media is a weak government; one that can withstand responsible journalistic attacks and criticisms is truly strong. The best defense any government can have against media and its enemies is good governance.”

[slor]

1. Gee...

they're telling us about. Good luck, my friends, it has already happened here.

[Selatius]

2. The Filipino government uses crude tactics compared to the US

In the US, big business reigns, and instead of the government cracking down on the news media at the insistence of big business groups, the news media is simply bought out directly by big business. This way, nobody can claim the government is truly against free speech because it hasn't lifted an iron fist against the news media.