Obama leads charge for global press freedom
(CNS): President Barack Obama has signed a law intended to protect free press around the world. Underthe Daniel Pearl Freedom of Press Act, the State Department will identify countries where press freedom is being violated. Pearl, for whom the law has been named, was a Wall Street Journal reporter who was beheaded by militants in Pakistan in 2002. Obama said the law would be a signal to governments around the world that their actions, including treatment of the media, are being watched. Speaking at the ceremony, the president said that naming the law after Pearl served as a reminder that there are those who would go to any length in order to silence journalists around the world.
“What this act does is it sends a strong message from the United States government and from the State Department that we are paying attention to how other governments are operating when it comes to the press,” the president said according to televised news reports from the US. “It also looks at countries that are — governments that are specifically condoning or facilitating this kind of press repression, singles them out, and subjects them to the gaze of world opinion in ways that I think are extraordinarily important.”
Obama said it was about sending a message that governments around the world can’t just operate against the press with impunity. Joining the president in the Oval Office for the bill signing were the chief sponsors of the bill — Senator Chris Dodd and Rep. Adam Schiff, as well as Pearl’s widow, Mariane and Pearl’s parents and son.
Category: World News
I heard the premier said on rooster on tuesday morning that he was not sorry for what he said, and he did not said out of anger. lord have mercy on us if he was angry.Now when you make a mistake like that and do not think that to apologize to the country some thing is wrong. This surely reminds me of what a man once told me , only two people that cannot change thier minds. They are a f@@L and a ed@@t. MR premier i want you to know that it is one of the hardest thind to say that you are sorry.but it is the best thing to do when you are wrong
OBAMA should allow freedom of press in USA.
Mac we were already on the Obama most "hated country" list… I’m now afraid you might of just pushed us even further up the list (to the # 1 spot). Once again, your big mouth has put us in an unfavorable international spot light (and it hasn’t even been one year). God hep us 3 more years to go.
You may want to take that American flag flying in front of your house down now Mac.
When asked this morning on Rooster if he thinks he should not have said what he said about the media at the press conference, Mr. Bush quite emphatically said he was not sorry and meant what he said.
This just goes to show the contempt he has for the people of the Cayman Islands, as even after the reaction of the people AGAINST what he threatens to do to the media if they in anyway cross him, he still thinks he is entitled to do as he pleases. This shows he does not care how the people feel and will do what he pleases – The Gall of the Bully!
Self-Power has gone to this mans head and he must be removed now, but as we all know, the rest of the UDP are spineless wimps, and that includes the non-elected members, nothing will be done within the UDP.
So every article that mentions free press will be posted on CNS now? You promised not to be tit for tat NW.
CNS: I promised not to make this a vendetta (look up the word), not to ignore the topic. Developments in the US directly affect us and the proposed legislation in Bermuda might be an indication of what politicians have in mind for these islands. Both are therefore worthy of posting and discussing. Any disagreements?
Pay no attention to that UDP poster Nicky.
Just keep on doing what you are doing without fear or favour.
This is not tit or tat, this is news that is current and relevant.
Die-hard Mac supporters like yourself would just like to see the issue go away, but it cannot and we must not let it go until the issue is resolved.
The only way to resolve the issue is for the Premier to apologise and say it was a mistake to try to censor the press and that he will NOT be bringing any new fees aimed at press organizations. Until that happens this is a live, current, and relevant issue as on any day in the LA or some late-night session in a Budget Committee Meeting he could muster the votes to pass something detrimental to press freedom.
The Premier and the Premier alone has the power to put this issue to rest. Ignoring it is not an option.
PS. I accidentally gave a thumbs-up that was intended for the CNS clarification and not the substance of your post.
CNS – a suggestion for you if you do not mind. Would it be possible for you to post your comments on posts as a Reply using italix or some use some other means of separating your most often excellent replies from the original comments. That way those of us who wish to vote can make it clear which way we feel about the original comment and which way we feel about the CNS reply. – Just a thought as I have on occasion given a thumbs up after reading your response to a poster’s comments when I would have given a thumbs down to the original comment.
Yes, I do that sometimes. The problem is that if someone else also responds my comment is then separated from the original.
And to post the CNS comment twice – One below the original comment, would be too complicated. I think if people want to agree with or oppose your comment, they have the option of commenting below the original one. People will just have to learn to think before they rate a comment
CNS, please don’t be intimidated by the 0.63% of Cayman who will side with the Premier on this issue like poster 22.02
99.37% of Cayman is in support of CNS and we will protect you however we can if he tries to carry out his threats to try and silence CNS.
Does this man know what "tit for tat" is, maybe he should check his leader.
Mac must be reading this because what other XXXXX would be giving freedom of the press the thumbs down?
I hope that some member of the UDP read this story and try and explain to the premier what OBAMA is saying.. i suppose that he already have cayman on his radar
There’s no way to change Mac’s mind once it’s made up but the rest of the UDP must make sure that he doesn’t embarrass us internationally. Please grow some XXX all of you. I am afraid for my country.
MAC changes his own mind nightly !!!!!
Mr. Premier Hon. McKeeva Bush, please take note of this article !!!!!!
He is too "busy to read CNS" but, when someone notifies him of another list we’re appearing on, he might pay attention.
Oh he know’s it, he just think’s he can do what ever he wants. Wrong, you will be kept accountable Mr B.