|
Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to
search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts
Vol. VI, No. 4
February 26 - March 4, 2006 Quezon City, Philippines |
|
HOME
ARCHIVE
CONTACT
RESOURCES
ABOUT BULATLAT
www.bulatlat.com
www.bulatlat.net
www.bulatlat.org
|
READER FEEDBACK
(We encourage readers to dialogue with us.
Email us
your letters complaints, corrections, clarifications, etc.)
|
|
|
DEMOCRATIC SPACE
(Email us your
letters statements, press releases, manifestos, etc.) |
|
|
For
turning the screws on hot issues, Bulatlat has been awarded
the Golden Tornillo Award.
Iskandalo
Cafe
|
|
Copyright 2004 Bulatlat bulatlat@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
Rescind Proclamation
1017, End the Assault on the Media
Media were among the first targets of Ferdinand Marcos when he declared
Martial Law in 1972. The news blackout allowed him free rein to round up
political opponents and strip the rest of the nation's citizens of their
civil liberties.
Once again, the media were among the first casualties as President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of emergency. Proclamation 1017 accused
media of having "recklessly magnified" claims of anti-Arroyo forces.
In the early morning of February 25 – the anniversary of the 1986 People
Power EDSA uprising – policemen raided the offices of the Daily Tribune
and have since been stationed there. PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao
recommended state control of the newspaper. He further warned that all of
Philippine media face the same fate unless they
obey government "standards," with police doing the evaluation of news
coverage and commentaries.
Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission warned broadcast
media that it would shut down radio and TV stations inciting the people to
sedition and/or rebellion.
Proclamation 1017 is thus a continuing threat to the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution, and democracy, of which press freedom is a cornerstone. As
responsible media professionals, we are aware of the crucial role of free
media in providing a free people the information
they want and need.
We therefore demand that Proclamation 1017 be immediately rescinded.
We demand the immediate halt to assaults on the media and press freedom.
We demand immediate withdrawal of troops from the Daily Tribune and other
media offices.
Posted by Bulatlat
BACK TO
TOP ■
PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION ■
COMMENT
© 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications
Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided
its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
|
|
|
|