Press Statement – March 2, 2006

Reference:      Ruth Cervantes, Public Information Officer, 09228107169/09153008624

 

Resist media clampdown!   Oppose martial law!

Defend press freedom and civil liberties!

 

The human rights alliance KARAPATAN condemn in the strongest possible terms the raid of The Daily Tribune editorial office and the attempt to do the same to Abante.   This is patently an attack on press freedom. 

 

We, human rights advocates express our solidarity with the Philippine press in denouncing Malacaņang's other attempts to curtail press freedom with the imposition of a so-called guideline.   It is outrageous that media is being terrorized by the Macapagal-Arroyo regime into submitting to "standards" or face being ransacked.

 

In a democracy, journalists, like human rights workers, should be allowed to their job without fear of reprisal from government.   Apparently, what exists in this country is no democracy but tyranny.

 

The attempts to stifle voices of dissent with the clampdown of the press, arbitrary arrests of known critics and the killings of journalists, human rights workers, activists, lawyers, priests, peasants and workers are downright lawless violence being committed by the state against its citizens.  

 

We call on freedom-loving Filipinos to defend our right to information through a free press.   We as a people have the right to seek, receive and impart information through any media we so choose.

 

We laud the defiance shown by The Daily Tribune editors and media organizations such as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.   We are one with them and the Filipino nation in defying this new martial law.  We will not be cowed into silence.

 

KARAPATAN calls on the Filipino people to be vigilant and defend our democratic rights and civil liberties as our people valiantly did when they defied the Marcos dictatorship.

 

Resist media clampdown! 

Oppose martial law!

Defend press freedom and civil liberties!   ˙