Philippine Journalists Protest Martial Law

Philippine journalists led a march with around 300 protesters in Manila on Wednesday.

They were joined by delegates from the International Federation of Journalists, who conducted an investigation on an election-related massacre.

The killings deeply disturbed the media community in the Philippines, especially in the south.

[Ruth Pollard, Australian Journalist]:
"Journalists are still very much operating under threat in Mindanao. They've told us, some of them have told us that they are receiving death threats by text message and they feel unsafe just doing their jobs. So this massacre has had a massive impact on the way that journalists do their work in Mindanao and of course across the Philippines."

Despite the risks, Philippine journalists are motivated to continue doing their jobs.

[Jose Pavia, Executive Director, Philippine Press Institute]:
"It's not going to stop us, because that is the nature of our craft. That is the calling we have embraced, in pursuing the truth."

As authorities continue to hunt down suspects under martial law, some oppose the rule.

Amnesty International has called for a clear and short timetable for martial rule in the south, and says the military's poor human rights record raises concerns that civilians could be abused.

Senators and congressmen started a joint session on Wednesday to review President Arroyo's decision to impose martial law in Maguindanao. The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to halt martial law.

Thirty of the massacre victims were journalists, mostly working for local newspapers and radio stations. Their deaths constitute the largest number of killed journalists in a single instance.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• NTDTV
• Philippine
• Journalist
• Manila
• Election
• Massacre
• Human rights
• Arroyo
• Mauindanao
• Martial Law

[joelito101]

Weird how they go after Journalists first. They don't want any of these injustices to be recorded. Keep up the good fight.