MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 5, 2012) – The global movement for digital freedom Access has launched a worldwide petition to stop Cyber Martial Law in the Philippines, said a statement sent to the regional newspaper by the artist collective group called Dakila.
Dakila, a core member of the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance, has been working with Access to bring to the attention of the international community the fight against cyber martial law in the Philippines.
According to the petition, “With broad and unjust cybercrime laws being enacted around the world, we need to fight them one by one. That’s why it’s critical that the international community stands together on Black Tuesday.”
Access is an international nongovernmental organization that promotes open access to the Internet as a means to free, full and safe participation in society and the realization of human rights. Access has been in the forefront of the international action against Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
In an email sent to millions of Access members worldwide, Access pointed out “This defiant and democratic spirit has been seen before. Over 25 years ago, Filipinos fought and won to overcome martial law and institute a democratic government. But what makes this law’s passage curious is that President Aquino is the son of Corazon Aquino, former president and leader of the opposition party that restored democracy in the Philippines in 1986. So many Filipinos are left wondering why the son of the leader who fought for their rights is allowing free speech to be taken away.” (Follow link https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/stop-cyber-martial-law)
Ayeen Karunungan, of Dakila said: “It is really saddening that the Cybercrime Law has actually done what SOPA and PIPA have failed to do. In fact, it turned out far worse than the two. While we all want to be protected from cybercrimes such as cyberbullying, the Cybercrime Prevention Act does not answer the problems we are facing but merely curtails our freedom of expression and sends a chilling effect on Filipinos. And all of this is happening as we commemorate the 40th year since the declaration of Martial Law in our country.”
In the twitter world, people from all over the world have been re-tweeting “This tweet’s safe, but 1 bad RT=12 yrs in jail under new Filipino #CyberCrimeLaw to gain support for the petition.
On Oct. 9, the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance is set to hold another Black Tuesday to protest the Cybercrime Law as they wait for the Supreme Court en banc’s decision for the TROs. Access has called on the international community and netizens all over the world to stand together on Black Tuesday.
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