Times like this calls for eternal vigilance long described as the price of liberty. …a government that is genuinely committed to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption; the protection of the rule of law and the institutionalisation of democratic values, especially through the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, will not be dismantling the civic space in the manner we are witnessing. Is there more to this than meets the eye? Introduction As I transferred my thoughts into this speaking note, it suddenly occurred to me that we are probably not sufficiently grappling with the depth of the precarious state of press [...]