A reminder to President Obama

The news on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyos current itinerary (Davos, Milan and Bahrain and now a side-trip to Washington DC) has not recorded attendant public reaction. No critical notes from the usual voices in the political opposition. No readings of public opinion about the point of so much globe-trotting. Obviously, the attempt to be seen with the US President Barack Obama is intended to quiet the growing chorus that she has so far failed to gain any attention from this hugely popular leader of the Western World. All the statements from Malacaсang suggest that every effort is being made so that Mrs. Arroyo can get, at the very least, within distance of Obama to favor a photo-op.

Without commenting on the rather desperate measures of Malacaсang to achieve a propaganda coup, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) notes the irony of such a meeting given the tenor of President Obamas inaugural speech and the strong statement made to erring leaders around the world. CMFRs perspective on this draws from the dire situation for many journalists in the countryside and the recurring clash of wills between her administration, her family and independent minded journalists. We think any propaganda gain for Mrs. Arroyo relative to Obamas ascendancy will dampen the global reception to Obamas call for freedom and for change in the world.

CMFR has issued this letter template that it has sent to the White House. We urge those who believe in press freedom and the recovery of democracy in the Philippines to do the same.


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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Mr. President:

Since 2004 the Philippines has had a president of doubtful legitimacy. Filipinos concerned with the future of democracy in the Philippinesacademics, former government officials, journalists, workers, students, human rights activists, lawyers and farmersand who have looked into the conduct of the fraud-ridden elections of that year have been subjected to various forms of intimidation, among them the use of an antiquated libel law to silence journalistic inquiry.

Since your election to the US Presidency Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has done everything to gain your ear. Having failed to do so in the past, she will be attending the National Prayer breakfast in Washington this Thursday, where you will be a guest speaker, in the hope of meeting you for the purpose of legitimizing her rule, which a majority of Filipinos believe to be illegitimate. Should she fail to finally meet with you, she will look for other occasions to do so.

Mrs. Arroyo is one of those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent. Precisely because she is on the wrong side of history, she now seeks to gain through an audience with you the approval of her nation and the world that she could not get through fair elections and honest and efficient governance. We urge you not to give Mrs. Arroyo the opportunity to use the goodwill most Filipinos have towards you, your government and the United States by not meeting with her, whether this Thursday or on any other occasion, even as, for our part, we pledge to do all we can to end her illegitimate and despotic rule.

In 2006 Mrs.Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, upon declaring a state of emergency in the name of national security, but actually to stop wide-spread demands for her resignation, had a newspaper office raided by the police, the leaders of protest groups arrested, and two TV stations surrounded by troops, even as her secretary of justice was threatening journalists and other critics with criminal prosecution, and hundreds of political activists were being murdered by her security forces.

Although the emergency has since been lifted, Mrs. Arroyo has continued to silence inquiry and criticism so she can continue to preside over a regime that in its corruption and human rights violations recall the Marcos dictatorship. Human rights have in fact suffered most during her watch. Despite your ambassadors recent urging that human rights violators be punished, one of Mrs. Arroyos latest acts was the appointment to the Philippines Dangerous Drugs Board of a former general accused of the most egregious human rights violations.

Mr. President, Filipinos who cheered your victory will interpret any meeting you have with Mrs. Arroyo as an indication of both your as well as your governments approval and will be immensely disappointed. Her administration will use the slightest sign on your part to prop up her fraudulent claim as a leader committed to democratic values in the country. We earnestly hope that you will not allow this to happen.