May 21, 2009
NUJP DAVAO STATEMENT ON THE INCLUSION OF NUJP IN THE MILITARY HITLIST
We are aghast at the discovery of an Order of Battle list by the military which includes our organization, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, among others.
If there is one thing that the existence of the said document proves, it is the fact that the state security forces have turned to fascistic ways to an end. The document shows that the military are indeed engaged in eliminating civilians, the unarmed, for reasons that have continued to baffle us to this day.
We could not help but ask what have we done to deserve this?
The NUJP is an organization that believes democracy is impossible to exist if the press is not free to do its job so we endeavour to fight for conditions that may allow journalists in this country to write and tell stories the way they should be doing it, in the service of democracy.
If this is what the 10th ID puts us in the list for, then it becomes right to say that the 10th ID has effectively become the enemies of press freedom, the enemies of democracy.
We note, sadly, that we have come to a point where the price of defending truth, freedom and democracy in the country has become too costly. We are being made to pay for it with our dear lives.
More than sixty journalists have already been killed in this country since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power and by far, her administration has yet to prove that it is doing something to help the situation.
As though this currently reigning climate of impunity that journalists are being faced with is not enough that journalists have to put up again with yet another condition that puts our very lives in grave danger.
We warn the 10th ID of the Philippine Army, that we shall hold no one else accountable but your elements for whatever harm that will fall upon these organizations and members in the list. We say that what you did as shown in this piece of evidence is wrong as it is condemnable. You must answer for this grave misdeed.
The NUJP believes that we are called not just to defend ourselves this time but to fight fascism which is now rearing its ugly head in our midst.
NUJP Davao Chapter
“There can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear."
-NUJP
“There can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear."
-NUJP
