Prédateur

Rodrigo DUTERTE

Président de la république des Philippines depuis le 30 juin 2016

Prédateur depuis son arrivée au pouvoir

Philippines, 138e/180 au Classement mondial de la liberté de la presse 2021

Dear [Name of Candidate],

I am writing to ask you what you plan to do to defend the First Amendment, freedom of the press, and the fundamental rights of journalists to practice their profession freely in what has become an increasingly hostile environment for information and news providers.

The United States, which enshrines press freedom in the First Amendment of its Constitution, is currently witnessing a drastic decline in media freedom. On June 28, one of the most horrific attacks on press freedom in the United States occurred when five employees, including four reporters, were killed at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. According to the US Press Freedom Tracker, which comprehensively documents press freedom violations in the US committed by national, state, and local authorities as well as private individuals, 33 journalists were arrested, 43 were physically attacked, and 15 seizures of journalists’ equipment occurred in 2017. In one of these incidents, Rep. Greg Gianforte physically assaulted a Guardian journalist the night before his state’s election. While covering the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, journalists were impersonated on social media, impeding their ability to accurately investigate the facts and disseminate information which could be vital to preventing a similar tragedy. This hostility towards the press not only risks compromising the American public’s right to be informed through journalists’ reporting, but can also degrade the public’s trust in the media itself.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental right that impacts every American no matter their politics. Journalism is at the crux of our democracy, and communities everywhere rely on journalists to provide them with information that is essential to their daily decision-making processes. It was local investigative journalist Curt Guyette who broke the story about Flint, Michigan’s lack of access to clean water in 2014, prompting years of class-action lawsuits, protests, and subsequent federal assistance to the city in order to try to resolve the crisis. Reporters Megan Twohey, Jodi Kantor, and Ronan Farrow publicized sexual assault allegations against influential Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017, leading to the ubiquitous and powerful #MeToo movement which brought decades of sexual abuse and harassment across multiple industries to light.

Yet freedom of the press in the US is currently in dire need of congressional support. It is our civic duty as one of the world’s leading democracies to uphold principles that support and protect the rights of journalists so that they may hold those in power accountable and ensure an informed and engaged community.

If you are elected, what do you plan to do to protect this utterly essential component of our democracy? What are your plans to protect the public’s right to be informed through a free and independent press?

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Hello, my name is _______ and I am from [city, state].

I’m calling to let you know that [candidate/representative]'s stance on freedom of the press is extremely important in my decision to vote. I feel that this is not a partisan issue, but a fundamental right that impacts every American no matter their politics.

I have become increasingly concerned with the growing climate of hostility for journalists in this country, and I would like for [candidate/representative] to publicly address what they will do to defend press freedom if [he/she] is elected.

Thank you.

Freedom of the press is suffering in the US. @[yourcandidate] if you are elected to serve in Congress, what are your plans to protect journalists and our right to be informed? Will you #DefendPressFreedom?

Democracy depends on a free and independent press and its ability to hold those in power accountable. [@yourcandidate] will you take measures to protect journalism and the First Amendment? Will you #DefendPressFreedom?

In June, four reporters were murdered in an appalling targeted attack on the Capital Gazette and freedom of the press. [@yourcandidate] what will you do to address the growing threat to journalists in this country? #DefendPressFreedom

Press freedom is in steady decline in the US. I want my representative to defend the work of journalists as well as my right to be informed. [@yourcandidate] if you are elected what will you do to protect a free press? #DefendPressFreedom

Journalists play a crucial role in our democracy by keeping us informed and holding those in power accountable. And yet in the US, attacks on journalists are becoming more common, undermining the media's role and creating opportunities for government overreach, the erosion of press freedom, and impeding our right to be informed. I’m contacting my candidates and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. Join me at DefendPressFreedom.com

A free press is essential to our democracy. Communities everywhere rely on journalists to report on our government’s actions and hold public figures accountable, providing us with the information we need to make decisions every day. And yet physical, verbal, and online attacks against journalists in the US are increasing at an astonishing rate. I’m contacting my candidates and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. You should too. Read more at DefendPressFreedom.com

Press freedom is declining in the US at an alarming rate. Physical, verbal, and online attacks against journalists have increased drastically in the last two years. As the US midterm elections approach, we must remind our congressional candidates that journalists play a crucial role in our democracy by keeping us informed and holding those in power accountable. I’m contacting my representatives and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. Join in and help me spread the word at DefendPressFreedom.com

MODE DE PRÉDATION : la “guerre totale” contre la presse indépendante

Élu dès 1988 maire de la ville de Davao, dans le sud de l’archipel philippin, Rodrigo Duterte y a développé, sous couvert d’une lutte contre la criminalité, une méthode de gouvernance qui fait peu de cas du respect de l’état de droit. Les médias locaux sont rapidement les victimes collatérales de son style brutal, qui ne tolère aucune critique ni même aucune nuance concernant sa politique. Et c’est à la faveur d’une rhétorique franchement populiste que celui qui se fait surnommer le “punisher” (“punisseur”) parvient à la présidence de la République en 2016. Son arrivée au pouvoir révèle les faiblesses du système démocratique philippin. Face à un pouvoir exécutif hypertrophié autour de la figure du chef, les juges qui ne suivent pas sa ligne sont mis au placard, tandis que le congrès, agissant comme un parlement-croupion, entérine toutes ses décisions. Largement soutenu par les milieux d’affaires, Rodrigo Duterte impose très aisément sa ligne au sein des médias appartenant aux magnats qui lui sont proches. Dans ce contexte, c’est la presse indépendante qui endosse le rôle de contre-pouvoir, avec les risques afférents : fort des collusions qu’il entretient au niveau de tous les rouages de l’État, le président Duterte dispose d’un arsenal qui lui permet de mener une “guerre totale” contre les journalistes : dépôt de plainte fallacieuse pour diffamation, pour évasion fiscale ou pour violation de la législation sur les capitaux ; révocation des licences de diffusion ; rachat des organes de presse par des complices et mise au pas des rédactions ; cyber-harcèlement des journalistes par une armée de trolls...

CIBLES DE PRÉDILECTION : les derniers contre-pouvoirs

Face aux dérives autoritaires de Rodrigo Duterte, une poignée d’organes de presse ont voulu enquêter sur cette politique. Dès mars 2017, le bouillant président les avertit : “Je ne veux pas les menacer. Mais leur karma risque de finir par les rattraper…" Parmi eux, le quotidien de référence de l’archipel, le Philippine Daily Inquirer, est racheté un an plus tard - sa rédaction doit rentrer dans le rang. Deuxième cible, le principal réseau audiovisuel du pays, ABS-CBN : en juillet 2020, le parlement, acquis au président, enterre le groupe en rejetant sa licence de diffusion. Dernier rempart de la liberté de la presse : le site d'information Rappler et sa directrice, Maria Ressa. Harcelée par les plaintes systématiques du clan Duterte, celle-ci risque une peine cumulée d’une centaine d’années de prison. Toujours dans la nuance...

DISCOURS OFFICIEL : l’insulte

“Ce n’est pas parce que vous êtes journaliste que vous échapperez à un assassinat si vous êtes un fils de pute.” (30 juin 2016, lors de son investiture.)

Publié le 05.07.2021