HSA and the press

By Nini B. Cabaero
THE community press lives a "very peripheral existEnce," to borrow the words of Cebuano historian Resil Mojares.
I understand it to mean that, aside from being physically far from the nation's capital, community or regional newspapers are generally less well-off than the national publications, have limited resources and, in many cases, they are less able to cope with attacks on their ability to perform their work.
Yet, community newspapers have the wide-scope task of reporting information of great significance to a number of people. This is information not normally available to or carried by the metropolitan newspapers.
Those in the community press share the same reservations about the Human Security Act (HSA) as those expressed by their counterparts in Metro Manila.
But there is for the community press the added complication of having fewer resources, going a longer distance, to address a growing threat.
I agree with critics of the HSA that the definition of terrorism is vague, the fundamental right to due process can be violated, papers and properties can be seized, and suspects can be placed under electronic surveillance.
Worrisome was the statement of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez last July 4 that the media may be wiretapped based on mere suspicion of involvement in terrorism or on suspicion of "co-mingling with terror suspects."
Co-mingling. In the 1980s, the term meant sympathizers or being sympathetic to the other's cause. Many journalists, Cebu journalists included, were arrested or placed on watch lists at the height of the anti-communism movement for the simple reason they interviewed or were invited to press conferences of the rebels.
Even before the HSA became law, community journalists were already more in danger than their counterparts in Metro Manila. Just count the number of journalists killed since President Arroyo assumed office and you will find more attacks on journalists in the countryside.
What can the community press do?

* Hold more forums to discuss this new threat to press freedom
* Come up with positions to amend or scrap the Human Security Act
* Create protocols for the protection of journalists
* Network with national and international organizations to have a bigger voice
* Create legal networks to assist journalists under attack

The Cebu press is already doing these. The annual Press Freedom Week celebration becomes the occasion to discuss such issues, network with other groups and re-enforce support systems.