Black Tuesday protest gains support of international group

THE global movement for digital freedom "Access" has launched a worldwide petition to “Stop Cyber Martial Law” in the Philippines.

“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,” the petition stated.

Access is an international non-government 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. It has been in the forefront of the international action against SOPA and PIPA.

In an email sent to millions of Access members worldwide, the organization 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.”

The artist collective 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.

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 retweeting: “This tweet’s safe, but 1 bad RT=12 yrs in jail under new Filipino #CyberCrimeLaw” to gain support for the petition.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance is set to hold another Black Tuesday to protest the law as they wait for the Supreme Court en banc’s decision for the temporary restraining order.

Access has called on the international community and netizens all over the world to stand together on Black Tuesday. (PR)