We May Not Like Everything The Media Says But We?d Better Protect Their Right To Say It?Or!
NEWS FROM THE MANNIN BRANCH CELTIC LEAGUE
Isle of Man Port Security and Police Force personnel are employed to do just ?what it says on the tin, provide security at ports and police our country.
They definitely do not have as part of their remit ?protecting the government from embarrassment? and that is what makes Paul Moulton?s assertion that he was stopped filming recently at the sea terminal all the more concerning.
Minister Phillip Gawne who apparently resolved the issue does his best to poor oil on troubled waters in the opening section of this interview about ?the great sea terminal flick knife controversy? which ironically shows that port security staff were doing a thorough job when they confiscated an item they thought was illegal (link):
Rightly or wrongly the individual involved was so upset he staged a protest and immediately it became a legitimate focus for news and given it was a public protest the best medium was TV news (something we don?t have enough of on this Island).
At this point a storm in a teacup becomes a major issue because although the area involved is open to public access someone did not like Moulton arriving with a TV camera and his presence was questioned.
Now no one is more critical than me from time to time of IOM media coverage however whether we like what news is churned out or not we should all stand firm on the right of journalists and TV or Radio broadcasters to gather it without let or hindrance.
The Manx media are not noted for pushing the boundaries indeed some of us would aver they don?t push them far enough. However they carry out their functions in a proper manner and that is all the more reason for no STOP NOTICE to be attempted on their freedom to report.
I know from the treatment of nationalist protests in the past and the policing of Trade Union disputes that the Manx government thought the police and port security personnel on this Island were theirs to direct. They are not!
They are not the Manx government?s private army to be directed in a partisan manner ? those days are over ? aren?t they?
BERNARD MOFFATT
Issued by: The Mannin Branch Celtic League
18/03/16
THE CELTIC LEAGUE
The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries including our own Mannin branch. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues
The link for the main web pages is below:
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