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Regional groups condemn arrest of Rappler CEO
Philippine authorities have found themselves at the receiving end of international condemnation since Wednesday’s arrest of journalist Maria Ressa.
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Maria Ressa speaks at the Committee to Protect Journalists' International Press Freedom Awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt hotel on Nov. 20, 2018, in New York City. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for CPJ/AFP (AFP/-)
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egional press alliances and human rights groups have condemned the arrest of veteran Philippine journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, which has sparked allegations she was being targeted over her news website’s criticism of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Ressa, 55, was arrested by plainclothes agents at her Manila office on Wednesday and spent the night in detention over charges referring to a report on a businessman’s alleged ties to a then-judge on the nation’s top court. She was released on bail on Thursday, various news outlets reported.
The Asia News Network, a coalition of 22 leading news outlets from across Asia, expressed its concern regarding the arrest on Thursday, urging the Philippine government to refrain from any form of intimidation of the media.
“Arresting a leading member of the journalistic community without any attempt to show that the allegations made in the article were false raises alarm and leaves us disturbed about the conditions under which members of our fraternity in the Philippines must operate,” the group said in a statement.
Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) also condemned the arrest, with the head of the group, Abdul Manan, calling it “an attempt to silence journalists and media [that] criticize the government”.
“[We] urge the Philippine government to respect democracy and protect press freedom by ceasing to intimidate Maria Ressa and [retracting] the legal charges against her,” Abdul said in a statement to The Jakarta Post.
Meanwhile, Malaysian lawmaker and the chairman of the group ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), Charles Santiago, said freedom of information was necessary to any functioning democracy as it safeguarded people’s ability to make informed decisions.
“Governments need to recognize the vital role independent media outlets play and take all necessary steps to ensure a safe environment for journalists to work without undue interference,” Santiago said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Indonesia’s representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Human Rights Commission, Yuyun Wahyuningrum, tweeted in support of Ressa: “This arrest is inconsistent with Article 23 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration that guarantees freedom of opinion and expression.”
Article 23 of the declaration, which the Philippines has also signed, stipulates the right of every person to express opinions and includes the freedom to defend opinions without interference and to seek, receive and provide information, either verbally, in writing or through other means chosen by that person.
Rappler and Ressa have been hit with tax evasion charges and now a libel case after clashing repeatedly with Duterte over his deadly war against drugs that has killed thousands.
This week’s legal challenge was not the first blow for Ressa and her website. On Dec. 3 last year, Ressa was hit with five tax evasion charges. Prior to that, Rappler journalist Pia Randa had been banned from reporting from the Philippine Presidential Palace.
