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
NORTHERN DISPATCH
Posted by Bulatlat
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not been retracted, GMA’s ouster could have been fast-tracked,” the CPA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
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