Philippines: Information on Jamie M. Fernandez, a novelist and the director of Philippine Journalists Inc. He is also publisher of Philippines Times, Journal, People's Journal, and People's Tonight, and a contributor to Graphic Arts Services; general information on abuses against members of the media

Specific information on the requested subject could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, the following information may be of some interest.

According to the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, several Philippine journalists who were critical of the regime were killed in 1985 by military forces (1985, 153). The government did little to stop or punish those who were responsible (Ibid., 155). The Committee notes writing in 1985, that

[w]hile it is unlikely that all of the killings were a result of the victims' journalistic activities alone, as many Philippine reporters work only part-time and have other jobs, there can be no doubt that there is a pattern of harassment of journalists because of their reporting. More importantly, the government's failure to investigate the cases fully, coupled with statements that seem to justify the killings, send a dangerous signal that the government is willing to tolerate such grave abuses (Ibid., 157). According to the source, the government frequently closed down the offices of various newspapers or journals to keep the media under control. Among others, the offices of the weekly Philippine Times were padlocked on 29 September 1983 for over two years until the Supreme Court, stressing the freedom of the press ordered the offices to be reopened (Ibid., 160).

According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1991, however, freedom of the press is generally respected in the Philippines (1992, 970). According to the source, journalists have been able without legal penalty to meet and interview anti-government rebels, including the Communists and certain members the right-wing military (Ibid.). An agreement between the Department of National Defence and the National Press Club signed in 1990 and designed to resolve problems encountered by journalists was respected, and there were no reports of harassment of journalists in the first half of 1991 (Ibid.). The same source continues, however, that

[t]he deaths of two journalists in 1991 evidence ... [that] the press continues to face considerable hazards in carrying out its responsibilities. The dangers are greatest for those working outside the capital, where powerful vested interests involved with gambling, illegal logging, or the drug trade may use financial inducements or pressures as well as the threat of violence to control the media (Ibid.).

According to an editorial published in the Philippine Human Rights Update, journalists were beaten or killed in 1990, and many of the killings were political: the victims were vocal against corruption, human rights abuses and illegal gambling (1990, 3). The source states that during the first four years of the Aquino presidency, an annual average of six journalists were killed, while during the Marcos administration the yearly average was two (Ibid.). According to the source, the Aquino government has disclaimed any responsibility for the killings and harassment of members of the media (Ibid.). It claimed neutrality on the issue of recognizing media practitioners as "non-combatants," a universal right ignored by Philippine defense officials (Ibid.).

For additional or corroborative information please refer to the attached sources.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1991. 1992. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. 1985. "Salvaging" Democracy: Human Rights in the Philippines. New York: The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.

Philippine Human Rights Update [Manila]. 15 June-14 July 1990. Vol. 5, No. 10. "Editorial: Philippine Press in a Worse State then during Marcos." Research, Documentation, and Information Program of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-National Center.

Attachments

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1991. 1992. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. 1985. "Salvaging" Democracy: Human Rights in the Philippines. New York: The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.

Philippine Human Rights Update [Manila]. 15 June-14 July 1990. Vol. 5, No. 10. "Editorial: Philippine Press in a Worse State then during Marcos." Research, Documentation, and Information Program of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-National Center.

. [Manila]. 15 June-14 July 1990. Vol. 5, No. 10. Boy Mazo. "Red Scare on Media." Research, Documentation, and Information Program of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-National Center.

. [Manila]. 15 June-14 July 1990. Vol. 5, No. 10. Amy Bandiola. "Press Freedom Situation Much Worse After Edsa." Research, Documentation, and Information Program of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-National Center.

. [Manila]. 15 June-14 July 1990. Vol. 5, No. 10. "Three More Journalists Killed in 33 Days." Research, Documentation, and Information Program of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-National Center.

. [Manila]. 15 July-14 August 1991. Vol. 6, No. 11. Cecil Ancheta and Arlene Tima. "Another Media Repression?" Research, Documentation, and Information Program of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-National Center.