Philippines makes it to the list
By Laurent Houssay
Agence France-Presse
PARIS—Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders named Monday the world’s 40 worst “predators of the press” including politicians, religious leaders and militias to mark World Press Freedom Day.
“They are powerful, dangerous, violent and above the law”, the Paris-based watchdog RSF said. “These predators of press freedom have the power to censor, imprison, kidnap, torture and, in the worst cases, murder journalists”.
Seventeen presidents and several heads of government are on the list, including China’s Hu Jintao, Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Cuba’s Raoul Castro and Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
New entrants on the annually-updated list of “predators” include Taliban chief Mullah Omar.
The Taliban leader, “whose influence extends to Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, has joined the list because the holy war he is waging is also directed at the press,” RSF said.
Mullah Omar’s “thugs threaten local reporters who do not relay his propaganda”, while around 40 Taliban attacks directly targeted journalists and news media in 2009, it said.
Chechnya’s pro-Kremlin President Ramzan Kadyrov was also added to the list.
Under Kadyrov, the watchdog said “anyone questioning (his) policies… is exposed to deadly reprisals,” citing the murders of reporter Anna Politkovskaya and human rights activist Natalia Estemirova.
Yemen’s President Ali Abdulah Saleh was branded a “predator” after Sanaa set up a special court for press offenses in what RSF said was a bid “to limit coverage of dirty wars being waged in the north and south of the country.”
Private militias in the Philippines were also added following the massacre of 57 people, including 30 journalists, by “the local governor’s thugs” in Maguindanao province in November last year.
“In Latin America, violence still comes from the same infernal quartet: drug traffickers, the Cuban dictatorship, (Colombian guerrilla group) FARC and paramilitary groups,” it said.
Italian organized crime, the Basque separatist group ETA and Somalia’s Islamist militias were also listed.
Figures whose names have been removed from the “predator” list include Nigeria’s State Security Service, which RSF said has “has been reined in.”
The Nigeria police force, however, “has emerged as the leading source of abuses against the press,” it said, with poorly-trained police “encouraged to use violence against journalists.”
RSF also removed several Iraqi Islamist groups, arguing that while levels of violence remained high, journalists were no longer being singled out.
According to an RSF tally, nine journalists have been killed in 2010 and 300 media professionals are in prison.
Statement of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Today, May 3, is World Press Freedom Day.
Today, let us not forget how the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has, through sins of commission and omission, laid waste to press freedom and freedom of expression in this country.
Let us not forget that the nine years Arroyo has reigned have been the most murderous for the Philippine media.
Let us not forget that of the 137 journalists and media workers murdered since 1986, 100 were slain under this administration, 32 of them in the November 23 Ampatuan massacre, the worst single attack on the media ever.
Let us not forget that it was under this administration that the Philippines officially became the most murderous for journalists in the world.
Let us not forget that this is the only administration since the Marcos dictatorship that has actually attempted a wholesale clampdown on the press when Arroyo declared a state of national emergency in 2006.
Let us not forget that this is the only administration since the Marcos dictatorship whose security forces have openly branded media organizations as “enemies of the state.”
Let us not forget the 46 journalists slapped with libel cases by Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel, in a brazen abuse of his influence.
Let us not forget the more than 50 journalists unceremoniously cuffed and hauled to jail for the crime of practicing their profession when they covered the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007.
Let us not forget Congress’s shameless attempt to control news content through the Right of Reply Bill even as it killed the Freedom of Information Bill and tried to pull a fast one by crafting a bill that is far worse than the already draconian libel law in existence.
Today, let us commemorate World Press Freedom Day and, yes, let us celebrate it as well. For if the Philippine media are free, it is no thanks to this administration but because Filipino journalists have chosen to be free. Let us celebrate as well the unprecedented unity the media community has found in the face of the continuing threats.
Just as important, let us commemorate World Press Freedom Day with a solemn vow to make this and all other administrations that would seek to trample on the freedom of the press and of free expression accountable.
Let us wear black.
Let us roll a black runner or runner with black ribbon in the lower thirds of tv newscasts, or reserve a black space in the first page of print and online news with text that says, “Today, as we observe world press freedom day, let us remember all media practitioners killed with impunity and vow to fight until justice is achieved.”
Let us observe a minute of silence in newsrooms, radio booths, beats, coverages, meetings or assemblies when the clock strikes at 6 pm. For those who cannot attend the different media gatherings, light candles outside media offices.
Let us gather at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to say a prayer, offer songs and light torches and candles to remember fallen colleagues at 5:30 pm.
NOTE: NUJP CHAPTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, TOGETHER WITH OTHER LOCAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, WILL BE HOLDING ACTIVITIES TO COMMEMORATE WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY. KINDLY COORDINATE WITH LOCAL NUJP OFFICERS AND MEMBERS FOR DETAILS. SALAMAT!
Sad to say that in the flurry of the elections, even the horrendous Maguindanao massacre has taken a back seat. Hopefully, all of these attacks on press freedom will find a resolution once we get a new president.
No, we won’t forget. But the problem is not remembering but what’s to be done about it. Is she going to get away with murder? Can we count on the next president to order a full investigations on Gloria and file a case or cases of wrongdoings against her. I don’t expect Villarroyo to go after her, and I think Gibo is going to be a remake of Gloria. And oh Estrada owed Gloria for setting him free. So, will it be Noynoy? I think Quiboloy misunderstood “The Father” in choosing Gibo. Oh by the way, I think God speaks to everybody and I think he told me that Noynoy is the man for the job. I wonder what “The Father” told the others.
It’s been said that it’s okay if one talks to God. The bad thing is when one says that God talks to him or her! Draw your own conclusion…
Maguindanao Massacre will be one of the darkest point in gma’s presidency. Not just because of the montrosity of the crime, but more so due to her involvement. The Ampatuans were gma’s frankenstein who cheated for her in the 2004 presidential election, One wonders why cardinal rosales was mute and deaf to this heinous crime, and yet so quick to comment on Noynoy’s warning about election cheating. Has satan creeps into the archbishop palace already ?
Filipinos missed the late Cardinal Sin terribly……
Let us not forget that this is the only administration since the Marcos dictatorship whose security forces have openly branded media organizations as “enemies of the state.”
enemies of the state? loca talaga si Gloria.
No wonder her allies went on a murder rampage against 32 journalists and her husband went on a litigation frenzy against them.
The real enemies of the state are Gloria and her husband and their group of corrupt dogs.
Enemy of the state? gloria? Maybe. But she is the protector of their own estate, wasn’t she?
Filipinos missed the late Cardinal Sin terribly…… – sychitpin
NO, I don’t!
What’s the difference between Rosales’ and Sin’s leaning?
Pareho lang naman, di ba? Pareho silang pikit mata sa mga kawalanghiyaan ni gloria.
malaki ang pagkakaiba ni Cardinal Sin at rosales, Cardinal Sin was incorruptible, wise, courageous, sincere and holy
cardinal Sin was a major player in People Power 1 , who saved the lives of enrile, ramos, millions of filipinos soldiers and civilians alike.
Cardinal Sin was a true filipino hero
sychitpin – May 3, 2010 6:26 pm
RE: malaki ang pagkakaiba ni Cardinal Sin at rosales, Cardinal Sin was incorruptible, wise, courageous, sincere and holy…?
Oppssss! Are you sure Igan Sychitpin…e siya ang pasimuno kung kaya si Gloria e naging panggulo ah?
Anong Holy…ang ginawa ba nilang pagurak sa Saligang Batas at pagdusta sa karapatang pantao ng 11 milyong Pinoy na naging biktima ng EDSA DOS e madaling kalimutan.
I challenge ALL the Obessepo including Kardinal Makasalan sa ginawa nilang kawalanghiyaan noong EDSA DOS at ngayon pasang-krus ng milyong mamamayang Pinoy ang dusa’t hirap.
Ginagamit nila ang pulpito at akala mo mga anghel ng kaliwanagan e…di ba nasusulat, ” SA KANILANG BUNGA MO SILA MAPAGKIKILALA”?
Kung ano ang puno siya ang bunga!
sadly for pinas, after more than 50 years of press freedom, finding itself among the top journalist killers, is really a shame.this is a judgement on the state of democracy in our country today.when money determines the candidates for public office it is no surprise that we produce politicians like tha ampatuans and the arroyos who when unable to controll the press resort to the messengers of the people.
sorry correction, resort to killing the messengers……
Filipinos missed the late Cardinal Sin terribly……– sychitpin
NO, I don’t! – Magno
Idem!!!!!
balweg: nagkamali ang maraming Filipino kay gma, kasama diyan si Cardinal Sin at Pres Cory, gma betrayed cardinal Sin, Cory and the filipino people, that’s why Cory called for gma’s resignation, all blames should be on gma who committed the crimes, and not on cardinal sin who had the best interest of the people at heart, unlike cardinal rosales
by the way, maski si Jesus may isang Judas, si Cardinal Sin pa kaya?
hinudas ni gma si Cardinal Sin, Pres Cory at mamamayang pilipino
ngayon kaibigan ni cardinal rosales ang Hudas at berdugo ng Pilipino
If Gibo wins, he will become a Gloria repeat. I strongly feel that. He even expressed in an interview that there is nothing wrong with Gloria’s administration. He also said that Gloria is a good president. Gibo’s statement stuck in my head since then. People are so focused on Villarroyo but perhaps there is another alliance that we should give attention to and that is Giborroyo. Gibo might just surprise all of us just like how Gloria’s true colors came out as a surprise. It was too late when she’s found to be a wolf in a sheep’s skin.
i think church leaders should confine themselves to the leadership of the church.in this sense, rosales and sin are alike.the catholic church around the world today ought to reform the church so that priests and bishops alike do not abuse the members of their church that needed most their care and protection, i.e., the children.
Ellen, I will not forget Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s crimes. That includes her husband, children, and relations who benefited from her plunder.
I, also, have not forgotten Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, and their children who continue to shame the Filipino people to this day. It was only a couple of days ago when Bong-bong, on an interview, tried to elude and deny his family’s plunder. How can anyone of us even think of voting this guy to the senate?
Hindi ba napaka ipokritang gawain yan? Sabihin natin na walanghiya at magnanakaw si Gloria at ang pamilya niya, tapos bobotohin natin si bong-bong Marcos?
Si cardinal Sin, Cory Aquino, Gloria Arroyo, militant group, civil society, both houses of tongress, etc…etc…etc… hinudas nila ang Pinas Konstitusyon. Iyan ang maliwanag pa sa crystal.
Beyond that, kung sino man ang nag-hudasan aminin na walang nagawa ang mga naghudas na nagbalik-loob dahil marami pa rin sa kanilang mga hudas ang kumukunsinti sa main hudas dahil sa malaking pakinabang. Sorry na lang sa maliliit na hudas, hangga ngayon ay ipinagtatanggol pa ninyo ang malalaking hudas. 🙂
Nagkarun tayo ng sewer politics ngayon dahil sa sinimulan na hudasan na yan ng mga ‘marurunong’ pa kesa sa Konstitusyon. Huwag na sana iyang maulit.
Bakit nga ba hindi number one si Gloria Arroyo sa ‘predators of the press’? Nakakadismasya, mukhang wala ring alam ang RWB sa mga kahangalan ng unana.
@#9. That has been where I stood and where I stand to this day. It’s only in our country where these prelates are openly dipping their dirty fingers in the status quo. They can’t even solve/resolve the ever present sins they’ve committed towards the countless sexual abuses perpetrated by their own and the Vatican knows it all along.
Baguio’s Bishop Cenzon recently got into criticizing those who are running for mayor in particular; that they don’t have real vision kuno to the progress of the city. My comments to his usual lines were not even published by SunStar Baguio. These men in holy clothes just don’t get it. But he jumps on the first plane headed to the US when invited as a guest speaker for any reunion or to some lowly organization. What a joke……….
“Bakit nga ba hindi number one si Gloria Arroyo sa ‘predators of the press’? Nakakadismasya, mukhang wala ring alam ang RWB sa mga kahangalan ng unana.” – Chi
Mas masahol siguro ang Human Rights violations sa mga bansang ahead of this government. Besides, we were a US colony at one time and would be a reflection of America if we are consistently at the top, so maybe the reports are fixed, hehe…
Kanina ko suspetsa yan, tru.
Sister Mananzan openly said on TV that she was against the opinion of cardinal rosales, Bishop Cruz and other bishops were also against cardinal rosales crazy opinion…… time for rosales to retire if he still has some delicadeza in him …..
The most number of journalist killed was during GMAs reign including the most in one day, still her name is not mentioned. She knows how to play the game, paying off all these think tanks in washington and elsewhere. Why are journalists being killed? Who is doing most of the killings? We all know but we cant do anything about it.
Why GMA is not on the list of “Predators of the Press” as published by Reporters Without Borders?
The most plausible answer is “who is funding RWB?”
When I saw the name of George Soros in there I know something is amiss. Whenever or wherever he is involve in whatever, something always goes wrong which is for his benefit and his benefactors. In short, he is a point man of the elite, the international bankers.
What does it tells you? These international bankers like what GMA is doing in Mindanao. What else? Arroyo junta is in the cards if Noynoy’s autistic people power did not work or Noynoy’s autistic mind conditioning, through liarstream media or yellowstream media, did not work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders
Why cry ovwer spilled milk? The past is past, what we have is the now and the future…
The EDSA’s were wonderful, they will forever be part of our history and evolution as a people consciously striving to better ourselves. The one thing I see that we failed to achieve was political maturity. The EDSA 1 (overthrowing Marcos) was our chance to rebuild, all we had to do was be responsible, to police ourselves, to behave in accordance with our national governance, we wanted freedom – we had to be ready to exercise responsibility with it…unfortunately, as always, the Filipinos behaved liked children, irresponsibly, we steal when no one is looking, we cheat, we take undue advantage of others…the worst was when military adventurists staged coup after coup post EDSA 1, bringing down our economy and everything else…
The subsequent overthrow of Estrada was another chance, then again Gloria and her cabal took advantage…
Everything happens for a reason, some may be blessings in disguise…Gloria may be a bi—, but we survived the financial crises under her watch, we had the BPO and OFW boom, plus foreign investments. I hate to think what could have happened if it was still Erap.
Gloria can hold her own ib front of the international community, I give her that…unfortunately, I see that she has to bring home the bacon so she can pay off her minions, top keep the military, the activists, the people in general at bay – probably such a high price to pay to perpetuate her stay (or is it theirs?)
We have proven that we cannot govern ourselves individually, we are an unruly, selfish, violent, mob, that has to be treated like cattle (see the pink fences in our streets)…we go through red lights, we don’t use the pedestrian lanes, etc….
Its evident that it will take a Taliban-like rule to keep self interest parties at bay…the rich and poor alike…
What if we deserve the leaders we have, and because its a democracy, its our fault as a people and not anyone else’s? What if there’s no point in crying to high heavens anymore but to look at ourselves as individuals and ask if we need an overhaul starting with ourselves before we move on to bigger things like running the whole country?
It is insane to blame others, conspiracy theories, etc…lets be real…
Anyone who takes up the cudgels of leadership in this country will sooner or later face so many power hungry, self interest pushing blocks…anyone who comes in smelling like roses will reek of manure after a few months in office…when will end? when will we learn?
…is it possible to have a decent election, then behave for at least two years, just work together fo the common good, no bickering, no coups, no standoffs, no rallies, no campaigning for the next elections? and try to make it work first? Then again, we won’t have much scandals, controversies, etc…how will newspapers survive, the media networks?
I wonder why those reporters put themselves in harm’s way? I’m sure they were prepared to die otherwise they wouldn’t have gone there…as I said everything is a choice…some people choose to be heroes…but nowadays heroism doesn’t count much in the Philippines…
What is so wonderful about EDSA I and II? They are nothing but a coup d’etat.
“the worst was when military adventurists staged coup after coup post EDSA 1, bringing down our economy and everything else…” Huh? What a laugh. Military was restless because they know that Cory Aquino was an illegitimate president.
“Gloria may be a bi—, but we survived the financial crises under her watch, we had the BPO and OFW boom, plus foreign investments. I hate to think what could have happened if it was still Erap.” Who started and developed BPO? Foreign investments? WHAT??
If we are to look only at accomplishments…lets stick with Gloria Arroyo na lang…Erap is a big joke, in every speech he makes, its always a joke…
What a laugh. Military was restless because they know that Cory Aquino was an illegitimate president
—————–
Its not the military per se, just a few ones who wanted to put in their own “amos” you’re as lost as your conspiracy theories xman…I’m pretty sure you don’t get to decide anything wherever you are…get a life and a job…
Are you a general that command a batallion or just a foot soldier? a yes man?
Are you a retired yes man? hahahahhahaha
in my opinion, the denigration of pinas democracy started with marcos and therefore edsa 1 can be excused since it restored democratic process.edsa 2 on the other hand is questionable.
RE: Erap is a big joke, in every speech he makes, its always a joke…?
Conquering around 46 MILF camps a big joke…Igan juggernaut?
Walang propaganda…e almost 3 months lang in the making, tapos ang lahi ng mga rebelde at nagsi-iskapo sa Malaysia ang mga leaders nila.
Laking sampal kay Tabako na West Pointer…walang “K” ang star apple niya sa balikat, isang college dropout may balls pala.
Si Gloria nga ang order sa kanyan doggies e tapusin ang mga rebelde within 6month ata yon ayon sa news noon e ilang araw na lang sa enchanted kingdom walang nangyari.
Susmaryosep nman magbasa kayo ng tabloids na totoo at makinig sa mga media outlets na di bias sa mga datos ng pagbabalita.
Tuloy pagtatawanan tayo niyan ng mga batang musmos na mas alam nila kung ano ba ang nangyayari sa ating bansa kasi nga e wala silang makain sa hapagkainan.
Balik-tanaw tayo Igan juggernaut, ang paghihirap ng Pinas at ka Pinuyan e pinatuyan ng mga AKALA mo ang titino at feeling saviour ng bansa?
On January 16, 20001 @ 11:00 PM Militant groups, the civil society, left-wing groups, and a large anti-Estrada crowd unites in protest against the decision of the 11 senator-judges to bar the evidence. They gather in the EDSA Shrine, located on the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Advenue (EDSA) in Quezon City. Jaime Cardinal Sin, a prominent figure during the widely popular1986 EDSA People Power, once again, calls on Filipinos to proceed to EDSA and stay there until, using his own words, “good has conquered evil”. EDSA People Power II is formally launched. Other key figures in the 1986 EDSA People Power join the growing crowd in EDSA, like former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos.
Paano yan ipapaliwanag ni Kardinal Makasalanan yong sinabi niya na, ” GOOD HAS CONQUERED EVIL”?
Ngayon, sige ipaliwanag sa taong bayang ang 10-years ni Gloria sa enchanted kingdom? Ng dahil sa weteng ni chavit e ngayon…baon sa utang ang Pinas at ang ampatuwad massacre e siyang tumuldok na ang Pinas ang pinaka worst country in the world kung ang pag-uusapan e kumatay ng isang katutak na mamamahayag.
It’s a big joke!
the biggest problem of the Phil today is a bogus leader, one can not blame the people for being unruly and selfish, if the leader herself is thebest example of immorality, selfishness, callousness and extreme greed. I believe the Phil could regain its lost glory if it has a good leader, who will lead by showing good example of integrity, self discipline, honesty, selflessness, competence and humility. The wrong and rediculous attitude of always putting the blames on filipinos for the crimes of its leaders helped a corrupt bogus leader destroy the country. The reason Phil is still above water now was because of the billion dollars of remittances from 11 million OFWs scattered around the world, despite the extravagance and unabated raids on gov’t treasury by gma.
90% of all leadership failures are character failures, the supreme quality for leadership is INTEGRITY. Without it, no real success is possible. The surest way to reveal one’s character is not hru adversity , but by giving them power. In this sense, gma is a total failure.