Exposing Evil is Only Way to Stop Forces of Tyranny
The Universe
(May 18, 2003)
'The truth shall set you free’ is one of the simplest and yet most powerful sayings of the Gospels. For many committed writers and publishers it is the inspiring and motivating power behind much of their work.
Telling the truth to the public about the social realities, the good, the bad and the ugly is the only way to protect and preserve the freedom of thought and expression and to hold in check the forces of tyranny, injustice and exploitation of the poor and the weak.
Writers, journalists and broadcasters around the world have paid a heavy price for exposing the truth and defending their right to do so. Last year 26 journalists were killed three of them in the Philippines all connected with reporting human rights abuses committed by the police or military.
So far this year, 15 journalists were killed. Nine of them during the invasion of Iraq and most died because of coalition gunfire. In the Philippines 40 journalists have been murdered since the restoration of democracy and the fall of the Dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
The latest victim is radio broadcaster Jun Villanueva Jr. who was brutally shot to death last week of April within a few hundred meters of his home in Davao City.
Jun was a journalist of great integrity who exposed human rights violations and was outspoken against the death squads and military abuses in that part of the southern Island of Mindanao. He was branded a communist sympathizer by the military.
As a writer, I have been threatened and pressured to temper my writing and ease my exposure of abuses, social evils, police an military atrocities. But I continued nevertheless.
The strongest reaction against comes from corrupt politicians that profit by allowing the vice and crime against women and children to proliferate. After eight years as a weekly columnist on the leading national newspaper, I was fired when one politician, who's actions I was critical of, gained influence with the board of directors of the newspaper.
In the Philippines financial control of newspapers, television and radio stations gives the owners the power to suppress and censor unflattering news.
The Philippine media does not rank high in the honours list of the latest International Press index out the first week of May to celebrate World Press Freedom Day. Out of 139 countries we lie at a low 89th place. The index was drawn up by an organization of journalists named Reporters Without Borders and is based on a list of 50 pertaining to the violations of press freedoms that they have experienced.
Worldwide, it is not much better. Restrictions against openly writing the truth and exposing venality is severely curbed by some draconian laws. In Cuba, there are 30 journalist imprisoned. In 16 Latin American nations it is a criminal offense for journalists to "insult" public officials. In the Philippines anyone can be charged with libel, a criminal offense, if someone makes a complaint no matter how frivolous it is.
While most journalists are dedicated and self-sacrificing in the service of truth, and many have given their lives for it, there are some corrupt journalists too on the payroll of politicians and others who spin, twist and deceive for some ideological or political purpose.
The reading, listening and watching public is the real guardian of press freedom and they need to be as vigilant and watchful as ever or we will lose the precious freedom to speak or write the truth - and the public will be the worst off for it.
