Media condemns radio burning 06-07-09

	NORDIS WEEKLY July 9, 2006
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Media condemns radio burning
BAGUIO CITY (July 4) — Local and international media organizations condemned an attack on community radio station dwRC Radyo Cagayano and tagged the incident as a major setback for press freedom. The local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Baguio and Benguet (NUJP-BB) said the burning of Radyo Cagayano took place at around 2:00 A.M. on Sunday, July 2, by armed men wearing ski masks. In a statement it sent the media, NUJP-BB urged government authorities to conduct a speedy investigation and to charge with appropriate cases those involved in the arson. “We learned that before dawn that day, eight armed and ski mask-wearing men, carrying M-16 and 45 caliber firearms, illegally entered the station area, poured gasoline, and put the station aflame which reduced into ashes the station house, including the transmitter and booth facilities and some personal belongings,” the NUJP said. International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) an international media watchdog, said that so long as accidents as this are allowed to occur, the media will not be able to perform its duty in reporting fairly and accurately to communities. IFJ President Christopher Warren said, “This is a major setback for press freedom, and the targeting of a community radio station is particularly ruthless and disturbing. Stations such as this should be able to operate without fear of persecution, as they are an essential source of information for regional communities.” Violation of rights According to Karapatan Cagayan Valley reports, before the station was put on fire, the station manager, Susan Mapa, and her staff Joy Marcos, Arlyn Areta, Armalyn Badua, Arnold Agaraan, and Richard Ayudan were forcedly dragged, hogtied and blindfolded outside the station by the perpetrators. They suffered slight injuries and mentally harassed as a result of the incident. Seven cellular phones were taken from them. One of the men poked a .45 caliber pistol at Ayuda’s neck. All of the victims sustained wounds due to accidental fall while being dragged out of the burning premises, according to Karapatan-CV. Personal belongings taken and lost in the fired was valued at P39,130, according to the report. Radio facilities are valued at around P2 million. Radyo Cagayano was funded from Bayan Muna’s Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) which Satur Ogampo facilitated in 2003 for Kagimungan-Baggao, an alliance of peasant organizations in Baggao. According to Mapa, “The burning of the radio station exemplifies political reppresion and an attack on press freedom and a clear curtailment of the people’s right to information.” She recalls that during its groundbreaking on July 1, 2003 three peasant leaders who helped clear the area nearly figured in a hacking incident. Elements of 1stIB/5th ID/PA then led by Capt. George Domingo at ni Gen. Alvarado even videographed the groundbreaking. “It took us three long years to establish this radio station. Now that we are on a test broadcast they razed it down to ashes because the authorities do not want us to stay on air longer,” Mapa said. “This cowardly act is an attack against press freedom. It is a concrete move to suppress freedom of expression. Radyo Cagayano is a popular station among local folk as the staffs discuss the present national and local issues. The staff may have criticized policies of the government they believed contrary to people’s interests, but they did so in the exercise of press freedom, recognized and protected under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution and other laws,” the NUJP-BB said in its statement. Military perpetrators One of the perpetrators was wearing a military uniform while the others wear military wrist-watches. They are believed to be from the 17th IB under the 5th Infantry Division under Brig. Gen Alexander Yap Ching. Police investigation led by SPO3 Jose Durwin yielded a magazine for a .45 Cal.pistol and two empty musers of .45 Cal. Meanwhile, the peasant group Kagimungan points to the military as perpetrators of the arson. In a separate media statement, Kagimungan said that Radyo Cagayano is owned by the people of Cagayan, especially Baggao residents who sacrificed and labored to put up the radio station. # Via NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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	NORDIS WEEKLY July 9, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Media condemns radio burning
BAGUIO CITY (July 4) — Local and international media organizations condemned an attack on community radio station dwRC Radyo Cagayano and tagged the incident as a major setback for press freedom. The local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Baguio and Benguet (NUJP-BB) said the burning of Radyo Cagayano took place at around 2:00 A.M. on Sunday, July 2, by armed men wearing ski masks. In a statement it sent the media, NUJP-BB urged government authorities to conduct a speedy investigation and to charge with appropriate cases those involved in the arson. “We learned that before dawn that day, eight armed and ski mask-wearing men, carrying M-16 and 45 caliber firearms, illegally entered the station area, poured gasoline, and put the station aflame which reduced into ashes the station house, including the transmitter and booth facilities and some personal belongings,” the NUJP said. International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) an international media watchdog, said that so long as accidents as this are allowed to occur, the media will not be able to perform its duty in reporting fairly and accurately to communities. IFJ President Christopher Warren said, “This is a major setback for press freedom, and the targeting of a community radio station is particularly ruthless and disturbing. Stations such as this should be able to operate without fear of persecution, as they are an essential source of information for regional communities.” Violation of rights According to Karapatan Cagayan Valley reports, before the station was put on fire, the station manager, Susan Mapa, and her staff Joy Marcos, Arlyn Areta, Armalyn Badua, Arnold Agaraan, and Richard Ayudan were forcedly dragged, hogtied and blindfolded outside the station by the perpetrators. They suffered slight injuries and mentally harassed as a result of the incident. Seven cellular phones were taken from them. One of the men poked a .45 caliber pistol at Ayuda’s neck. All of the victims sustained wounds due to accidental fall while being dragged out of the burning premises, according to Karapatan-CV. Personal belongings taken and lost in the fired was valued at P39,130, according to the report. Radio facilities are valued at around P2 million. Radyo Cagayano was funded from Bayan Muna’s Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) which Satur Ogampo facilitated in 2003 for Kagimungan-Baggao, an alliance of peasant organizations in Baggao. According to Mapa, “The burning of the radio station exemplifies political reppresion and an attack on press freedom and a clear curtailment of the people’s right to information.” She recalls that during its groundbreaking on July 1, 2003 three peasant leaders who helped clear the area nearly figured in a hacking incident. Elements of 1stIB/5th ID/PA then led by Capt. George Domingo at ni Gen. Alvarado even videographed the groundbreaking. “It took us three long years to establish this radio station. Now that we are on a test broadcast they razed it down to ashes because the authorities do not want us to stay on air longer,” Mapa said. “This cowardly act is an attack against press freedom. It is a concrete move to suppress freedom of expression. Radyo Cagayano is a popular station among local folk as the staffs discuss the present national and local issues. The staff may have criticized policies of the government they believed contrary to people’s interests, but they did so in the exercise of press freedom, recognized and protected under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution and other laws,” the NUJP-BB said in its statement. Military perpetrators One of the perpetrators was wearing a military uniform while the others wear military wrist-watches. They are believed to be from the 17th IB under the 5th Infantry Division under Brig. Gen Alexander Yap Ching. Police investigation led by SPO3 Jose Durwin yielded a magazine for a .45 Cal.pistol and two empty musers of .45 Cal. Meanwhile, the peasant group Kagimungan points to the military as perpetrators of the arson. In a separate media statement, Kagimungan said that Radyo Cagayano is owned by the people of Cagayan, especially Baggao residents who sacrificed and labored to put up the radio station. # Via NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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