Journalists under fire in the Philippines

[reorg]

Journalists under fire in the Philippines (12:40 p.m.)

MANILA -- Despite having one of the freest presses in Asia, the Philippines has become dangerous for journalists, media watchdog groups say.

A record seven journalists have been assassinated in the country this year, most of them broadcasters or newspaper reporters in the provinces gunned down for their hard-hitting political commentaries.

It is the highest annual number of killings since 1986, when democracy was restored after 14 years of dictatorship, according to the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a local media watch group.

"Forty-three journalists have been killed over the last 17 years but not one of the murders has been resolved with satisfaction, reflecting the culture of impunity that prevails in the Philippines," Melinda de Jesus, the center's executive-director, told AFP.

...

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2003/12/08/journalists.under.fire.in.the.philippines.(12.40.p.m.).html

[FreakinDJ]

1. Not a very good sign for democracy

This does not look good

[tom_paine]

2. Yes, the shadow of Totalitarianianism re-establishes itself

and darkness flows across the globe...