Sep 21, 2006 12:15
Online press conference held to commemorate Martial Law
Posted by babelmachine
As I'm blogging this, I'm taking part in a very interesting online press conference/Internet relay chat session to commemorate the 34th anniversary of Martial Law, which was declared by the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos on September 21, 1972.
What makes this online press conference particularly significant is that it's another example of how technology can be used to encourage political discourse and safeguard freedom of expression. It's particularly apt considering that Martial Law sought to curtail these freedoms.
Guesting in what is dubbed as the first in a series of online press conferences being held by Philippine portal Yehey.com is House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Satur C. Ocampo. Popularly known as "Ka Satur", Ocampo was formerly a journalist, political prisoner and communist rebel, who was the spokesperson of the National Democratic Front during the peace talks in 1986 between the Philippine Government and communist rebels.
Apart from the by-invitation only Brewing Point Yehey chat, a Webcast is being simultaneously held via the Yahoo! Messenger Webcam feature. The actual press conference is taking place at the Yehey.com corporate office in Ortigas Center. I'm blogging this from my home.
The online press conference is still ongoing, and it's truly refreshing to see a lawmaker connecting directly with his constituents via cyberspace. Though he admitted that this was his first chat session, Ocampo is a believer in technology.
Apart from myself and INQ7 Infotech reporter Erwin Oliva, a number of other media representatives are also taking part in the online press conference.
The following is edited because I snipped out the other entries in between my question and Ocampo's answers and had to remove the tags for the nicks:
After all, the Philippines has seen many instances when technology was used as a tool to empower the public, such as the online demonstrations against the corrupt administration of former President Joseph Estrada, and the text brigade that rallied Filipinos to the second Edsa People Power revolution in 2001.
Critics of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo say these political freedoms are again being undermined. The online press conference was held not only to commemorate Martial Law, but also to denounce political killings and other human rights violations.
I also asked Ocampo via chat if he felt the Left now has more access to mainstream media, or whether it's alternative media, which now includes blogs and chat, that offers them a voice?
"The tri-media has definitely become more accessible to the Left. The tit-for-tat with our political adversaries is livelier with the wider media coverage," Ocampo replied.
As we move forward, we'll see more instances like this of democracy in action online.
After all, how can there be democracy if the people have no voice?
What makes this online press conference particularly significant is that it's another example of how technology can be used to encourage political discourse and safeguard freedom of expression. It's particularly apt considering that Martial Law sought to curtail these freedoms.
 |
| Screenshot taken when I entered the chat room. Erwin Oliva and I were among the first to join the chat session, which is why you can see only a few nicks. |
Guesting in what is dubbed as the first in a series of online press conferences being held by Philippine portal Yehey.com is House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Satur C. Ocampo. Popularly known as "Ka Satur", Ocampo was formerly a journalist, political prisoner and communist rebel, who was the spokesperson of the National Democratic Front during the peace talks in 1986 between the Philippine Government and communist rebels.
 |
| Screenshot of the Webcast. |
Apart from the by-invitation only Brewing Point Yehey chat, a Webcast is being simultaneously held via the Yahoo! Messenger Webcam feature. The actual press conference is taking place at the Yehey.com corporate office in Ortigas Center. I'm blogging this from my home.
The online press conference is still ongoing, and it's truly refreshing to see a lawmaker connecting directly with his constituents via cyberspace. Though he admitted that this was his first chat session, Ocampo is a believer in technology.
Apart from myself and INQ7 Infotech reporter Erwin Oliva, a number of other media representatives are also taking part in the online press conference.
The following is edited because I snipped out the other entries in between my question and Ocampo's answers and had to remove the tags for the nicks:
Joey_Alarilla: Ok tnx caloy. ka satur, how crucial a role do you think technology will play in helping safeguard democracy?
Ka_Satur: Although i am not adept with the new technology, i think it is a tool that the technologically savvy can use to overcome any attempt at curtailing our freedom.
After all, the Philippines has seen many instances when technology was used as a tool to empower the public, such as the online demonstrations against the corrupt administration of former President Joseph Estrada, and the text brigade that rallied Filipinos to the second Edsa People Power revolution in 2001.
Critics of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo say these political freedoms are again being undermined. The online press conference was held not only to commemorate Martial Law, but also to denounce political killings and other human rights violations.
I also asked Ocampo via chat if he felt the Left now has more access to mainstream media, or whether it's alternative media, which now includes blogs and chat, that offers them a voice?
"The tri-media has definitely become more accessible to the Left. The tit-for-tat with our political adversaries is livelier with the wider media coverage," Ocampo replied.
As we move forward, we'll see more instances like this of democracy in action online.
After all, how can there be democracy if the people have no voice?
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