Free press is a firm pillar of just society

Abraham Lincoln who was the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 till his assassination in April 1865 spoke of his nation as: "That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."

And in the words of this great man, the history of democracy got a new shot that spawned and moulded many institutions of governance as we know them today. And one of these is commonly referred to as the fourth arm of Government or Fourth Estate. That is the media. Mirror of society and barometer of social pressure.

In this institution lies great expectation and a great burden. To navigate through the minefield of tribalism, hate speech, competing political interests, snobbery, defenders of the status quo, titled lineages as well as straggling masses, the media is constantly evolving. However, its basic function has been to allow flawless exchange of information, ideas, education and news.

This liaison role has found media constantly weave across the crosshairs of many an aggrieved group, individual or even whole sections of society that may feel hard done by.

Bungled mission

In these instance, practitioners often come face-to-face with the real threat of physical harm and even execution for "stepping on the toes" of such disparate groups. Society must, therefore, legislate, interrogate and protect these messengers to keep channels of communication open.

A case in point being the State-sponsored raid by assault rifle-toting thugs on March 2, 2006, under the guise of protecting national security. If the assault were not so traumatising, the ensuing attempts to cover up he bungled mission and international embarrassment, it would be laughable.

And the concerned State agents are still picking the pieces and navigating across the littered path of censorship to national cohesion to ensure a President’s legacy remains somewhat intact in the twilight months to his retirement.

At what point did the bell toll for democracy? Who will tell the lords of impunity that "Enough Is Enough" and it is time to reclaim dignity and freedom?

Have they not learned from the mighty fall of dictators who in years past discovered a tad too late that the pen is literally mightier than the sword? Why don’t political leaders get the amazing and free brainwave that it is easier to have the press in your tent shooting out, rather than them out there training their cameras in?

See how the "day of revolution against torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment," that was marked in Egypt two Tuesdays ago was punctuated by vicious rioting in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria despite truncheon-wielding police officers.

In Libya, there is a tin pot dictator hanging in by the skin of his teeth and swimming against a swell of humanity intent on ejecting him from office. And all because he was too important to pick up a newspaper or listen to last night’s news, or failed to feel the pulse of the youth as they text away on their cell phones and laptop computers. How could so many so-called leaders fail to read the mood for so long?

Granted the freedoms media houses are demanding come with greater levels of self-inspection and responsibility, the right to information must remain sacrosanct. Those intent on killing the messenger have failed to heed the message, much to their detriment.

Dust bins of history

The Internet and worldwide connectivity have reduced the planet into one large room that no one leader can censor or jail. With expanded democratic space and faster ways of communicating, club-wielding brutes stand no chance and are indeed, a throwback to an era best dumped in the dust bins of history.

Let media thrive and a people learn to share and take better care of this fast warming planet, if mankind really wants to improve his chances of survival as a species.

Let governments be — in the words of President Lincoln — of the people, by the people, for the people, for these wananchi are the public interest in whose name all rulers claim lordship.

And lest we forget, who has answers to the real reason behind the Standard Group raid of 2006? Any takers?