Where press freedom is under challenge

SINGAPORE – Here I am in Lee Kuan Yew country savoring "peace and order", well-paved streets and greenery, while the natives themselves tell me they wish for some kind of change. They want to know whether there is life "outside the box". But I am not about to discuss the merits or demerits of authoritarian society. I am here to join other journalists to review our work of covering events of international significance in the last year under the umbrella of the entrepreneurial "World News Asia 2002". I have observed, thankfully, that this is not an American affair, more European-Asian. Coming from Manila, I find this a breath of fresh air, where life seems to be dominated by what American officialdom wants or does not want us to do after September 11.

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But here too there is some irony with Singapore being promoted as a sophisticated media hub for the Asian region when its standard of journalism on other aspects falls behind western standards or even some Asian countries, like the Philippines. It may be technologically advanced but good journalism requires more than modern machines. Certainly the issue of journalists being able to get "both sides of the story" or the ability "to take on the government when called for" is under a cloud. I have not yet posed the question to the organizers of the conference – why Singapore? – where freedom of the press here is under challenge.

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Europe reporting Asia, Asia reporting Europe. Friends of Ambassador Delfin Colome may be happy to know that he is executive director of the Asia-Europe Foundation which is based here in Singapore. As with most diplomats (he was in Manila as Spanish ambassador) who have had a stint in Manila, they view our country with great affection no matter how hard we discourage them. "I like Singapore because it is close to Manila, so I have a better chance to visit it when I get the chance," says Ambassador Colome. It was good for me to see him here too, in the convivial atmosphere of cocktails co-hosted by Malaysian Airlines in a charming colonial building and flowing Singaporean beer and French wines. It was easier to relate to him as former Spanish Ambassador to Manila and talk about our mutual interest to see better relations between Europe and Asia. This was one of the task that my husband dedicated himself to when he was Philippine ambassador to Brussels in the early 90s.

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The ideas of that timehave now borne fruit with the stability of a headquarters of ASEF in the former residence of the American ambassador in 1, Nessim Hill. What it has done and will still do was summarized by Eric Duchene, ASEF governor for Belgium, "The present world situation is volatile at best and efforts to promote understanding between peoples of different beliefs and cultures are more important than ever. By means of well-defined projects, ASEF has brought Asians and Europeans of all walks of life closer together for the past five years." That too is the importance of ASEF support for News World Asia as it moves on to be an important channel for international media.

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Dubai Media Society. Another innovation in the News World Asia this year is the presence of a delegation from the Dubai Media City. Asked if this signals a new openness by Arab media, Gaiti Rabbani said, "Definitely". Whereas in the past Arab media were more insular, they would now take a more aggressive stance in international forums such as News World Asia both for its journalistic and commercial benefits. This marks yet another phase in the aftermath of September 11.

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Their presence in Singapore is to promote Dubai Media City as an ideal platform for South East Asian companies who wish to take advantage of new opportunities in the Middle East market, which has grown in the past few years. DMC is seen by the global media industry as a strategic base to target emerging media markets in a vast region extending from the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent and the CIS countries to South Africa. Dubai’s strategic location facilitates links with the larger global media industry. This is an opportunity that has special benefits for Filipino companies with a ready market of 1.5 million English-speaking Filipinos.

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A word for Sonny Alvarez. It is all very sad but the bottom line of recent firings by the Arroyo administration whether it is intended or not is it does not pay to take political risks when advocating good governance. Better to keep quiet and just ride with the tide no matter who or what is in government. That can only mean a setback for the President’s own campaign for political reform. Reforms succeed only with the perception that it pays to take risks and sacrifices for the common good. But if those who make the sacrifices are punished and those who sided with oppressive or corrupt regimes end on top, then very few will take up the challenge. This is not to say that Vice President Teofisto Guingona or Secretary Heherson Alvarez cannot be criticized. It is only to say that as far as the greater public is concerned both are symbols of the continuous drive for good governance and their removal implies that this drive is now being abandoned.

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If Secretary Alvarez is removed from the DENR post, his enemies will celebrate and gloat on what is increasingly being accepted as a truism in the Philippines – that no good work in this country goes unpunished. On the other hand, Secretary Alvarez will have the consolation should his enemies get to the President, that it is because he knows his job darn well, they do not want him in that post where ignorance and lack of will are necessary to continue their rape of the country’s natural resources.

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My e-mail address: [email protected]