Press freedom under attack: why Filipino journalist Maria Ressa’s arrest should matter to all of us
The prosecution of Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and the legal harassment of her website, Rappler should concern anyone concerned about holding governments to account, writes Peter Greste in The Conversation.
In a scene right out of a thriller, agents from the Filipino National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided journalist and editor Maria Ressa’s Manila office at 5pm on Wednesday February 13, after most courts had closed. They took her from the Rappler newsroom where she is editor, to a police watch house and threw her in a cell.
Ressa’s lawyer bagged up enough cash to post bail and rushed to the only available judge who was presiding over the night court. The judge refused bail, forcing the journalist to spend the night in prison before another judge finally released her the following day.
Ressa’s crime? According to the NBI, she had been arrested on charges of “cyber-libel” – online defamation – for a story alleging a prominent businessman was involved in criminal activity.
It’s the Philippines. Thats how they roll. Leave them be.
Like it’s our business?