This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 5, March 5-11, 2006
Repression Remains after
GMA Lifts 1017 - CPA
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted Proclamation No. 1017 due to broad
opposition from various sectors but repressive forms remain continuously posing
a threat to press freedom and the bill of rights, various groups stated after
she announced the lifting of the proclamation that she issued last Friday.
BY
KIM QUITASOL BAGUIO CITY – President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted Proclamation No. 1017 due to broad opposition
from various sectors but repressive forms remain continuously posing a threat to
press freedom and the bill of rights, various groups stated after she announced
the lifting of the proclamation that she issued last Friday. “GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)
yielded to the broad anti-PP 1017 sentiment due to severe pressure from groups,
organizations, churches, institutions and individuals calling for the defense of
civil liberties,” a statement by the Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance (CPA) read.
The statement also noted that PP 1017 failed to weaken and lessen political
demonstrations against GMA; instead, “it further intensified the people’s
outrage and mobilizations against the regime.” “The truth is, had it not
been retracted, GMA’s ouster could have been fast-tracked,” the CPA added. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna
(People First) national vice chairperson Manny Loste agreed that the wide
popular people’s protest pushed the lifting of the state of national emergency.
But Loste stressed that
threats to civil liberties do not end with the lifting of the state of
emergency. He called on the Filipino people to continue to be vigilant and bold
in protecting their rights. Lawyers’ protest
Lawyer Randy Kinaud
stressed that the lifting of the proclamation does not change the fact that the
GMA regime has been resorting to violence to stay in power longer. “There was never a basis
for the declaration of a state of national emergency,” added Kinaud,
Secretary-General of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) and Board
Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Baguio-Benguet (IBP-BB).
The members of the IBP-BB,
as an expression of support to the IBP national officers who went to the streets
to protest the proclamation, launched a protest at the Justice Hall here by
wearing black arm bands. They opposed the proclamation as they described it as
an affront to the 1987 Constitution’s provisions on the bill of rights.
Media continuously
threatened Journalist Arthur Allad-iw,
acting national chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the
Philippines (NUJP), said that the lifting of the proclamation is just a ploy of
the GMA administration to save face before the broad opposition to Proclamation
1017. He added that threats to
press freedom are still present. He cited the plan to impose guidelines and the
continuous monitoring of media reportage. He also said that undeclared policies
that curtail press freedom and civil liberties remain. The NUJP, in a statement,
further demanded that Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Arturo Lomibao
withdraw all the “threats” he had made on media institutions and recall PNP
forces deployed in media offices. “We also urge the National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to pull out all orders controlling the news
broadcast and media affairs. The group also demand the restoration of programs
suspended in connection with Proclamation 1017, specifically Diyos at Bayan
(God and Country) of Bro. Eddie Villanueva at QTV, and Ngayon Na Bayan
(Now is the time countrymen) of DZRJ,” added the statement of the NUJP.
The said media group
demanded that Macapagal-Arroyo announce categorically that the government will
respect the people’s constitutional right to a free press. NUJP also stated that
the Filipino people should not lower their guard even if PP 1017 was lifted.
Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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NORTHERN DISPATCH
Posted by Bulatlat