I took a drive to The Sun's premises to have a first-hand look at the protest and vigil for their axed staff. It was not clear if the vigil was about press freedom or about a right to employment. On reading the National Union of Journalists' statements on The Sun's issue, one does get an impression that it was employment and discrimination that appears to be the main concern.

I cannot remember - and please correct me if I am wrong - but has NUJ in recent history come out in support of press freedom in relation to speech, censorship, concentration of government power over media resources, etc?

Was NUJ really there for the continued harassment of journalists now in Independent Media Activists Group (Kami)? Was NUJ there in terms of making a stand when MCA bought over Nanyang?

To me, it is relatively safe to raise a ruckus on retrenchment and discrimination in employment. Even the human resources minister of the BN government has no problem with this even if his bosses were the ones unhappy with the "baseless and sensational" story which started the whole thing.

I think the people need to see more spine in this. Journalists have to sit down and really thrash out all the difficult and sensitive issues like their rights to a livelihood, principles, the struggle for change and what really needs to be done with regard to press/media freedom especially before the upcoming general elections.

We should not just wait for World Press Freedom day and then do a one-off talk-shop.