It's Not Surprising That Agnes Callamard And Three U.N. "Experts" Defend CRappler
It's no surprise that Agnes Callamard defends CRappler. GMA-7 news said the following concerning Callamard and the three U.N. "experts":
GENEVA, Switzerland - U.N. human rights experts called on the Philippines government on Thursday to allow independent news website Rappler to operate, voicing concern at rising rhetoric against voices critical of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The country's Securities and Exchange Commission revoked Rappler's license on Jan 11 for ownership violations. Maria Ressa, chief of Rappler, met state investigators on Monday to answer what she called a suspicious complaint about a 2012 story.
"We are gravely concerned that the government is moving to revoke Rappler’s licence," three U.N. human rights experts said in a joint statement. "We are especially concerned that this move against Rappler comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country."
The statement was issued by Agnes Callamard, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, David Kaye, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Michel Forst, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights defenders.
Callamard had been at odds with Philippine government officials over comments on alleged human rights violations.
The Philippines authorities deny Rappler is being punished, but say it broke the law in 2015 by granting American investor Omidyar Network the means to exercise control over the news site, or veto powers on company decisions.
Rappler, which continues to operate normally pending an appeal denies it broke the law.
"Rappler’s work rests on its own freedom to impart information, and more importantly its vast readership to have access to its public interest reporting,” the U.N. experts said.
There was no basis under international human rights law to block Rappler from operating, they said: "Rappler and other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate."
Diplomats at the Philippines mission in Geneva were not immediately available to comment on the statement. — Reuters
GENEVA, Switzerland - U.N. human rights experts called on the Philippines government on Thursday to allow independent news website Rappler to operate, voicing concern at rising rhetoric against voices critical of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The country's Securities and Exchange Commission revoked Rappler's license on Jan 11 for ownership violations. Maria Ressa, chief of Rappler, met state investigators on Monday to answer what she called a suspicious complaint about a 2012 story.
"We are gravely concerned that the government is moving to revoke Rappler’s licence," three U.N. human rights experts said in a joint statement. "We are especially concerned that this move against Rappler comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country."
The statement was issued by Agnes Callamard, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, David Kaye, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Michel Forst, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights defenders.
Callamard had been at odds with Philippine government officials over comments on alleged human rights violations.
The Philippines authorities deny Rappler is being punished, but say it broke the law in 2015 by granting American investor Omidyar Network the means to exercise control over the news site, or veto powers on company decisions.
Rappler, which continues to operate normally pending an appeal denies it broke the law.
"Rappler’s work rests on its own freedom to impart information, and more importantly its vast readership to have access to its public interest reporting,” the U.N. experts said.
There was no basis under international human rights law to block Rappler from operating, they said: "Rappler and other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate."
Diplomats at the Philippines mission in Geneva were not immediately available to comment on the statement. — Reuters
This is the problem right now with Callamard and the three U.N. Experts. Since when did they become experts in world matter by just sitting on their seats. What should be disgusting is how one-sided Callamard is. If you remember what she did -- she was one-sided and decided to only hear the side of Atty. Chito Gascon without getting the evidence from the side of President Duterte. She should have accepted President Duterte's and Atty. Gascon's invitation and hear both sides. Instead, she sided with people who think like her.
So why is Callamard defending CRappler? Hmmmm... I wonder did Maria Ressa give her a lot of invitations? Did Ressa treat her out to a five star dinner as well? I could say that it's because Callamard was defended by CRappler especially during the time she said shabu doesn't cause brain damage. It's most likely all about preserving her so-called power to bully the Philippines than press freedom to why she's defending CRappler.
What's worse is that you have Dilawans who are bragging that according to them-- the international media right now would rather believe them than those they call as Dutertrolls or Dutertards. What they may ignore is that these so-called "experts" international media only believe them because the only source is the mainstream media. Fortunately, some of them like Stephen Sackur did their homework and ended up grilling Antonio Trillanes IV. They should first enter the Philippines and do a fair game investigation and not rely on the biased mainstream media.
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