Civil Protection Requests Media Restrictions in Curral das Freiras
The Public Security Police (PSP) of Madeira announced today that they restricted access to the parish of Curral das Freiras at the request of Civil Protection authorities during the ongoing wildfires. According to the PSP, these restrictions aimed to allow emergency personnel the freedom to operate and to maintain a secure perimeter. The move was designed to help residents evacuate their belongings, care for their animals, and prepare for emergency evacuations. The PSP communicated these details in a written statement to the Lusa news agency.
Police Maintain Continuous Presence Due to Unpredictable Fire Behavior
The PSP stated that the decision to limit access was made early Saturday morning and resulted in a continuous police presence throughout the day to support Civil Protection. The unpredictable spread of the fire, which advanced and retreated at various times, required changes in access restrictions depending on the fire’s intensity and proximity to populated areas.
Media Barred from Critical Areas During Key Firefighting Efforts
The PSP addressed another incident reported by the Journalists' Union, initially claimed to have occurred on Sunday in Fajã dos Cardos. The PSP clarified that this actually took place on Monday. In this case, Civil Protection requested that only residents be allowed to stay in the area where media personnel were gathered. This measure was taken to enable residents to evacuate their belongings and assist those in need, as the presence of non-residents, including journalists, was hindering firefighting operations. Civil Protection needed to expand the security perimeter to prepare for an intensified firefighting response.
Journalists' Union Accuses Authorities of Censorship and Double Standards
On Thursday, the Madeira branch of the Journalists' Union publicly criticized what it called a "climate of pressure and restrictions" on journalists covering the wildfires. The union specifically pointed to incidents on August 17 and 18, where reporters, camera operators, and photographers were prevented from accessing Curral das Freiras. The journalists union claimed that the PSP had clear instructions not to allow media into the area, a restriction that was only lifted after persistent negotiations.
The union also accused authorities of a double standard in access control. They cited an example of a JPP party deputy being allowed to pass through a closed road for campaign activities, while journalists were barred from entering. In response, the PSP noted that during the deputy's visit, fire conditions were less severe, and media access had not been restricted at that time.
Accusations of Pressuring Media to Retract Accurate Reports
The journalists' Union also highlighted cases where media outlets faced pressure to retract reports that later turned out to be accurate. One significant instance involved a report about the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which led to the deployment of two Canadair firefighting aircraft to Madeira. Following the report, Regional Government officials initially denied the information, accusing the media of inaccuracy. However, two hours later, Regional Government President Miguel Albuquerque confirmed that the aircraft were indeed being sent.
A source from the Regional Government’s Health and Civil Protection Department told Lusa that they had not denied the information about the Canadair planes but stated that the details were still under confirmation. The source referred all questions regarding the PSP's actions to the police force itself.
Source> Diário de Notícias da Madeira
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