This Week in Human Rights News

PHILIPPINES SHUTS DOWN BROADCASTER

Source: The Economist, Al Jazeera

• Earlier this week, the Philippines's largest broadcast network, ABS-CBN Corp was ordered by the country’s telecom regular, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), to shut down its operations. 

• The reason given for the NTC’s order was the expiry a day earlier of the media group’s 25-year broadcasting franchise on May 4th.

• The shutdown happened only two days after World Press Freedom Day. 

• ABS-CBN is fighting this in the Supreme Court, on grounds that it undermined freedom of speech and the public right to information.

• Duterte denies any involvement, despite having previously threatened ABS-CBN for being critical of him after they reported on his crackdown on illegal drugs, which has left thousands dead. 

• Various groups have warned that the shutdown was a blow to democracy and press freedom. Human Rights Watch called on Philippine authorities to immediately put ABS-CBN back on the air.

• During a global pandemic, access to reliable information is more important than ever. ABS-CBN has stated that it “plays a significant role in providing continued employment to thousands of employees and delivering valuable information and entertainment to millions of Filipinos locked down in their homes.”