Pag-block sa news, activist sites patikim ng 'digital martial law' — grupo
MANILA, Philippines — Kinastigo ng isang human rights group ang pag-block ng gobyerno sa website ng ilang media outfits at ligal na aktibista — aniya, pinatototohanan lang daw nito ang una na nilang kinatatakutang epekto ng kontrobersyal na Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Miyerkules nang iulat na ang pinada-block ni National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. sa National Telecommunications Commission ang access sa ilang websites, bagay na kanilang ginagawa dahil "kaanib o sinusuportahan" nila ang rebeldeng Communisty Party of the Philippines, New People's Army at National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Una nang dinesignate, sa bisa ng anti-terror law, ang CPP-NPA-NDFP, bilang mga "terorista." Sa kabila nito, kasama sa mga ipinatanggal na websites ay hindi naman designated bilang terrorista, gaya na lang ng alternative news sites na Bulatlat, Pinoy Weekly, pati na ang online portals ng activist groups na Bagong Alyansang Makabayan atbp.
"This move by the NSC and NTC affirms that the concerns and main arguments raised by the Supreme Court petitioners against the terror law are legitimate," ani Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay, Huwebes.
"These arbitrary acts violate press freedom, freedom of expression, due process rights, the people’s right to information, and the right to political dissent, among others."
Pinalagan din ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines ang hakbang na ito, lalo na't hindi naman daw krimen ang kritikal na pagbabalita at pamamahayag.
Ayon naman sa Bulatlat, na award-winning at 21-taon nang nag-ooperate, "prior restraint" ito laban sa protected speech lalo na sa kanilang nagsusulat tungkol sa isyu ng mga magsasaka, katutubo, maralitang lungsod, human rights violations atbp.
"Esperon wields the said draconian law with hubris and arrogance in justifying his orders, which did not go through any process of designation and proscription under the ATA," dagdag pa ni Palabay.
"[These orders are a] prelude to a full-blown digital martial law under the Marcos Jr. - Duterte regime."
Si President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ay anak ng diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos Sr., na nagpataw ng Martial Law sa buong Pilipinas noong 1972. Nagbunsod ito ng sari-saring human rights violations at pagsikil ng karapatan sa pamamahayag, gaya na lang ng pagpapasara at pag-agaw nito sa ilang media companies gaya ng ABS-CBN.
Sasama ang Karapatan sa sari-saring mga grupong magproprotesta sa inauguration ni Marcos Jr. sa ika-30 ng Hunyo, habang iginigiit ang karapatang magpahayag laban sa "intolerance to dissent" at digital rights ng susunod na administrasyon.
'Proteksyon laban sa leftist misinformation'
Dinepensahan naman ni Esperon ang kanilang hakbang idinidiing "tagumpay" ito laban sa mga "komunistang terorista" na nagkakalat ng "maling impormasyon.
"The Restriction of Communist Terrorist Group Affiliated Websites is a win for the Nation Against Leftist Misinformation, NPA Recruitment and Propaganda," wika niya, habang iginigiit na supporter ng CPP-NPA-NDF ang news organizations na Bulatlat at Pinoy Weekly.
"To call our act of protecting the integrity of our nation’s digital space as an act of 'desperation,' or a ‘blatant attack on free speech,’ reeks of desperation because they not only are unable to counter these arguments through any respectable means, but they are actively pursuing acts of terrorism within their respective organizations."
CPP: 7 lang diyan affiliates namin
Una nang sinabi ni CPP chief information officer na si Marco Valbuena na tanging pito lang sa 28 websites ang pinatatakbo ng mga mga affiliates ng CPP at NDFP. Aniya, ito ang pagkakahati-hati nito kung titilad-tilarin:
- cause-oriented groups (6)
- alternative news websites (3)
- progressive journalists at academiko (3)
- international organizations (2)
- international alternative news (2)
- news blog
- blog ng mga aktibista mula sa India
"At least six websites in the haphazardly drawn list are inactive with some last updated ten years ago," ani Valbuena.
"Surprisingly, the list also includes the Monthly Review and the Counterpunch, both highly regarded US-based organizations that promote progressive views."
Dagdag pa nila, authoritarian measure ang Marcos Anti-Democracy (MAD) Internet Firewall ay "desperadong" tangka para i-censor ang online criticism at dissent, makabayan at rebolusyonaryong peryodismo, atbp. laban kay Marcos Jr.
"We urge all democratic, progressive and patriotic organizations and individuals, journalists and academics who value press freedom and freedom of expression to resist the MAD Internet Firewall," dagdag pa ni Valbuena.
"Fight authoritarian censorship against the promotion of progressive, anti-imperialist and revolutionary ideas!"
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