Media will not be Cowed : QC IMC

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales spouts an old, tired line in attributing news reports of human rights violations and other government anomalies to a communist conspiracy. This government has a track record of blaming the media for its troubles -- if not the communists, it blames "terrorists," or "destabilizers" -- never mind that investigations later validate so-called propaganda.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) warns Gonzales of the repercussions of his irresponsible remarks. With the spate of killings of legal activists, groups behind the murders could interpret his remarks as a green light to make journalists fair game for more of the same. This can only worsen the tragedy of a country already infamous for being second only to Iraq as the world's most murderous place for journalists.

Mr. Gonzales' statement also undermines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's proclaimed resolve to solve these extra-judicial killings. Even as a body has been appointed to probe the murders and other cases of human rights abuses, we have Mrs. Arroyo's national security adviser dismissing the charges as communist propaganda. And this government wonders about public cynicism?

Mr. Gonzales' statement is great cause for concern, especially as it comes on the heels of a recent Philippine National Police briefing that blamed the bad press about journalists' killings on an International Media Organization that allegedly receives its reports from the National Democratic Front.

This charge was raised ironically during a "dialogue" called by PNP Director-General Oscar Calderon, who apparently did not realize that respected and legitimate media groups like the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists and the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders have all sent fact-finding missions to the country, not to talk to communists but to the families and colleagues of slain media practitioners and the different local media organizations that help authorities investigate the killings. The charge is startling and disappointing given the efforts of NUJP and other media groups to cooperate and help law enforcers in solving the murders of our colleagues.

Mr. Gonzales claims that the government has not clamped down on media. That is hardly the truth. President Arroyo's state of emergency proclamation clearly had media among the major targets. Philippine media survived that crisis not because of state benevolence, but because its strong, united defense of press freedom – a stand that cut across political beliefs and affiliations – forced a government retreat.

Mr. Gonzales' rants are just another attempt to sow fear in media and instill a climate of fear that would discourage independent reportage in this country. And once more, it will not succeed.

Reference:

Inday Espina-Varona
Chairperson

Jose Torres Jr.
Spokesperson