Media vs terrorism

(First of two parts)

The September 11 attacks on the United States have driven governments to impose restrictions on their citizen’s freedom of expression and imprisoned media in self-censorship. The governments’ actions have sought to influence the media’ coverage of political events, but these have been met with resistance from journalists, who want to be free without being pressed into service in defense of government definition of what constitutes "patriotism" and "national interest".

The alarming political events that have challenged the sensibilities of journalists compelled the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate World Press Freedom Day in Manila recently to provide a venue by which about 150 journalists from all over the world discussed and shared experiences about media and terrorism.

Putting the problem in simple terms, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura told the delegates that terrorism is "no friend of press freedom. Terrorism always seeks to intimidate."

"One of the most worrying results of terrorism is that it may cause some countries to impose forms of control and regulation which set limits to democracy, freedom of expression, and free, independent, and pluralistic media," he said.

Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO assistant director-general for communication and information, talked about the threat of terrorism as having created "a climate of fear, suspicion and mistrust which erodes the foundations of mutual confidence essential for exercising one’s rights and freedoms."

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The September 11 attacks were by no means the first example of blatant terrorism. All around the world, said Khan, different forces, be they paramilitary groups, Mafia, guerillas, drug traffickers, religious extremists and separatist movements are "keen to try to manipulate the work of journalists and demonize their counterparts."

Khan’s statement of there being more journalists than in previous years have been subjected to harassment, physical threat, kidnapping and direct violence was confirmed by reports of editors and reporters at the conference. Terrorist acts against the wielders of the pen were reported by delegates from Colombia, Spain and Chechnya.

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The media situation in Southeast Asia is far from secure, said Chavarong Limpattampance of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, "due to the fact that media is still the target of accusations whenever there is political, economic and social unrest."

Indonesia, he said, faces a new threat from social pressure groups. Mobs composed of Islamic militants have attacked the offices of newspapers and TV stations whose reporting has angered them. Journalists face threats not just from the government but from unruly mobs.

In the Philippines 35 journalists have been killed since the restoration of democracy in 1986. Many Filipino journalists especially in the provinces face threats and harassment in the course of their work, and muzzling of the press was strongly felt when former President Estrada initiated and advertising boycott of an influential daily that ran critical reports about his presidency.

The press in Malaysia has been under tight control by the ruling party in such ways as press regulations and ownership control. On May 3, 2001, an extraordinary event took place when some 1,000 Malaysian journalists filed a petition to the Home Minister demanding a change in the existing press law. However, there is no sign from the government it would meet the journalists’ demand.

Said Cavarong: "If we consider all the above mentioned incidents as threats to the media, we can simply say that the media in Southeast Asia countries are in danger. In addition, after September 11, some of the countries in the region have come up with new measures and legislation to muzzle the media and limit civil liberty. All of them are done under the name of anti-terrorism campaign. Therefore, whenever, the media are under threat, press freedom is also under threat. Then the citizens’ ears, eyes and mouth will be shut, and that is the end of democracy."

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Melinda Quintos de Jesus spoke highly of the freedom enjoyed by Philippine press. "The broad arena for press activities assures the institution with enduring power and influence. The press generally enjoys public support." But content analysis of news coverage reveals flaws that mar Philippine journalism–"sensationalism, undue political and corporate influence on the news, and the lack of reporting and editorials despite the proliferation of both print and broadcast media."