Pakistan silences media in 'emergency'; TV blacked out; broadcasters threatened with jail

[Bluebear]

But this could never happen in the USA. Right?


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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf cites freeing Pakistan's media as one of his proudest achievements, but under emergency rule his regime is stripping those liberties away for fear independent news reports will further fan opposition.

Authorities have blacked out TV networks and threatened broadcasters with jail time, but so far have spared the Internet and most newspapers.

Most people in Pakistan, where illiteracy is rife, get their news from TV or radio. Shortly before the government suspended the constitution and the freedoms it guarantees, cable operators pulled the plug on domestic and international news channels — including the BBC, CNN and Fox News.

Only state Pakistan Television, or PTV, which broadcast Musharraf's solemn address to the nation late Saturday, remains free to air.

"He's scared of the reaction of the Pakistani people to his illegitimate bid to continue his rule," said Toby Mendel of Article 19, a London-based rights group that promotes freedom of expression. "Controlling the media, closing down the media is one way to at least mitigate that public backlash."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071105/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_media_clampdown

[spanone]

1. NBC reported that information was flowing mainly through the internet

[Bluebear]

4. I wonder how long that avenue will remain open

[Swamp Rat]

2. It can't happen here.

[blues90]

5. I do think it can happen here , not that you don't

They have almost completed the ten steps to fascism . We already have controlled media . Now they are tasing people and have dragged code pink people out of hearings with force , this to me is an indication to how far things have gone .

A prime example of how it can happen here is Katrina , and it has happened here . as long as it does not effect everyone at once then people don't care and stand in a state of denial . as long as it does not effect them all is well .

[veracity]

3. Dry run for Bush? You betcha....

http://tvnewslies.org/blog/?p=668