Anwar in Manila
Sep 23rd, 2007 by Tian
This was the first time Anwar visited the Philippines since his release in 2004. His attendance to the WFDA Conference coincided with several important dates related to democratic struggle in the region.
The conference reminded Filipinos the long years of dictatorship. On 21 Sept 1972 Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law: the parliament is suspended, opposition politicians are arrested, censorship is imposed.
On 19 Sept 2006, Thai Army occupied the streets of Bangkok and disposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra. On 21 Sept, coup leader General Sonthi formally announced the reason for the takeover.
For Malaysians, nobody can forget the midnight of 20 Sept 1998 when masked commandos stormed into Anwar’s house at Damansara Height. Anwar was arrested and sent to detention. Before the dawn of 21 Sept, he was beaten up half death by the IGP in the lock-up.
Another coincident was the event unfolding in Malaysia and the Philippines. On 18 Sept Filipinos were shocked by a revelation in the senate inquiry that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s husband Mike Arroyo was implicated in a contract. The senate found that a broadband deal with China’s firm ZTE Corp was incredibly overpriced.
The story of the First Gentleman (as the Filipino called their president’s husband) involved in suspicious business contracts was exposed by a journalist Jarius Bondoc. The free press in the Philippines plays a critical role to check abuses by politicians.
At home, hours before Anwar boarding onto an airplane to Manila, he held a press conference and revealed an explosive video tape. The video recording contained a long phone conversation of lawyer VK Lingam with some one likely to be the Chief Justice.
The tape was the most direct evidence we have ever possessed on the corruption of the judiciary. The impact of this bomb was no less than the inquiry into Arroyo’s husband. The difference is that we enjoy no free press. Thus the spread of information was rather slow.
Without the support of the mainstream presses, we have to rely on internet media to spread our news. Here the new tools like Youtube plays an important role. Thanks to the technology, the information is spreading fast and unstoppable.
Journalist Jarius Bondoc from the Philippines Star wrote about the ZTE scam
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Liberal Party leader Benigno “Noynoy†Aquino III, son of ex-President Cory Aquino