BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
MARIA Ressa, a strong determined and brave journalist, has a reputation of stating the facts and truth-telling, says that truth telling and stating the facts are at the heart of true reporting and journalism. Through her lawyers, she said that the decision was expected while disappointing. The same judges that convicted her were the same that rejected her appeal for reconsideration. She will continue her fight for justice and appeal to the Supreme Court.
The media practitioners in the Philippines and in many countries around the world where the government has enacted laws that limit the freedom of speech are naturally afraid and scared to openly challenge and criticize the ruling powers. Many voices that should be prophetic, not silent, not intimidated and not afraid, are sadly not very prophetic and are very much silent.
But there are those who give the lead and example of outstanding defenders of truth, human rights and human dignity. Maria Ressa is one of those courageous journalists that have defended human rights and so, too, is jailed rights activist Ales Bialiatski, one of the winners of this year’s Peace Prize. This is what the Nobel Peace Prize website has to say for this year’s winners:
“The 2022 Peace Prize is awarded to human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian human rights organization Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties. The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries. They have for many years promoted the right to criticism power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy.”
Ales Bialiatski is the founder of the right organization Viasna or “spring” in 1996. When he challenged the corrupt regime, he was jailed in 2011. In 2021, he was detained again without charge. Members of his group Viasna are also jailed. That’s what human rights defenders and truth tellers get when they speak out. The group of “UN Experts” has made a statement in their support:
“There is a serious accountability gap for gross violations of human rights law in Belarus, and we welcome the solidarity of the international community and all efforts based on international law to persist in seeking justice,” the experts said.
The UN experts have raised concerns about Bialiatski’s arbitrary detention since 14 July 2021, calling it part of an unfolding policy to silence human rights defenders and eradicate the civic space in Belarus. We hope and pray it never comes to that in the Philippines if it has not already.
When journalists and rights defenders face possible assassination and imprisonment for speaking the truth to power and exposing injustice and violations, the powerful institutions must take a stand and speak out to challenge injustice and abuse, to stand by the victims of injustice and exploitation and denounce abuse and uphold human rights and dignity.
Surely, the bishops can speak out without fear like Pope Francis does so frequently, following the example of Jesus of Nazareth who continually challenged and confronted the hypocrisy and the oppression of the poor by the Pharisees and was executed for telling them that only the truth would set them free from the power of evil and sin. That example is what empowers the truth-teller and brave journalists and human rights defenders. They free the truth and the truth will free them. (preda.org)/PN
