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A standoff between the government and reporters over the shut-down of all but a handful of briefing rooms at government agencies and restricted media access to government officials is escalating. Reporters covering the Ministry of Construction and Transportation issued a statement of protest on Tuesday, the second in as many days. "Reporters have already issued their first statement in opposition to the press control policy,¡± they said. ¡°But we decided to issue a second statement on a plan to carry out additional measures because the government continues in attempts to control the press."
One reporter said, ¡°we can¡¯t just stand by and watch the government continue to push for a policy that infringes on the freedom of the press and the people's right to know. We need to step up our fight until the government changes its policy." Reporters on the ministry beat are refusing to move to a new centralized briefing room and say they will stay at the ministry's old pressroom, ready for a clash if necessary.
Reporters on the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy beat also issued a statement. "Reporters' access to government officials is not designed to satisfy their personal curiosity,¡± they said, denouncing regulations that would require them to apply for and log interviews with officials, respect Government Information Agency news embargoes as writ, and compels them to register with the GIA. ¡°We cannot condone any act that restricts our constitutional right to news coverage to satisfy the people's right to know,¡± they added.
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A Ministry of Environment official gives a briefing at a new centralized briefing room at the Ministry of Finance and Economy building in the Government Complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. Government officials (within dotted lines) are filling the seats left vacant by protesting reporters.
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The Korean Bar Association also released a resolution against the press controls. "The government is unilaterally implementing the policy without going through the proper legal procedures despite opposition from most people and the press,¡± it said, adding the controls are capable of restricting the people's right to know. "In line with the basic constitutional principle that all power comes from the people, the government must respect the views of constitutional agencies and abide by proper legal procedures in formulating and implementing all policies, as befits servants of the people,¡± the KBA said.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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