The commemoration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is especially meaningful to us, and especially to sectors which had labored so hard in lobbying for the Freedom of Information Act. For the past two years, representatives from farmers, labor groups, OFWs, urban poor, academe, industry, etc. marched in rallies and shared experiences that were attributed to lack of access to information sources. These concerns contributed to the crafting of the legislation, by providing much of its “flesh and spirit”. The bill was already at its final stage last February when Congress adjourned for the elections. The advocates hope that when Congress resumes session on May 31, it would eventually be passed into law. The rule which gives privilege status to Bicameral Conference Committee Reports in the consideration of business applies to the FOI Act, according to Access to Information Network (ATIN) and the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), the two lead groups that provided technical assistance to the Senate and the House. They further noted that the advocacy for the Right to Know Campaign had been conducted in good faith and in the most positive manner. Thus, they hope Speaker Nograles would show them that the trust that they had placed on his leadership and his avowed commitment to pass the FOI bill will not be betrayed.
This plea is doubly significant as the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day with the theme, freedom of information. UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova had taken the occasion to remind governments and organizations about their “duty to share or provide ready access to information, as the right to know is central for upholding basic rights, and for furthering transparency and justice”. She also calls on all countries around the globe to observe a minute of silence to “remember those whom it is too late to help, and to honour the journalists who paid with their lives for our right to know.”
UNESCO had earlier viewed with alarm the increasing impunity that accompanied the increase in the number of journalists killed last year. Of the worldwide tally in 2009 (77), the Philippines registered the most number of killings – 37, of which 32 were victims of the Maguindano massacre.
A highlight of WPFD is the recognition of an individual or organization that has worked in defending and promoting freedom of expression, especially if this action puts the individual’s life at risk. This is through the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, the annual award which this year will be given to Monica Gonzalez Mujica, a Chilean journalist. Ms. Gonzalez was cited for embodying the spirit of the award, and her courage in defending freedom of expression by fighting against the military dictatorship in her country. She was imprisoned and tortured as a result of her investigation of human rights violations as well as the financial doings of General Pinochet and his family. Upon her release, she went back to her work as investigative reporter, publishing books and articles about the abuses of the dictatorship. She continued to work as newspaper editor and journalist after Chile’s return to democracy .in 1990.
Since its creation in 1997, the Prize has been awarded to laureates in Sri Lanka, Mexico, Russian Federation, Lebanon, China, Cuba, Israel, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Syria, Mexico, Nigeria, and again in China. The celebration of World Press Freedom Day which the Philippines hosted in 2002 will be held this year in Brisbane, Australia. My email is florangel.braid@gmail.com |
