FORUM-ASIA strongly
condemns the recent massacre of civilians and journalists in Maguindanao, southern Philippines. We call on
the government of the Philippines to conduct an independent investigation into
this crime and hold its perpetrators accountable.
(27 November 2009,
Bangkok) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a
regional human rights organisation with 46 members across Asia, strongly
condemns the recent massacre of civilians and journalists in Maguindanao, southern Philippines. We call on
the government of the Philippines to conduct an independent investigation into
this crime and hold its perpetrators accountable.
On 23 November 2009, 57
people, including family members of Vice Mayor Ishmael Mangudadatu of Buluan
and 18 journalists, were brutally killed by armed men. They were on their way
to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to file Mangudadatu's certificate of
candidacy for the elections in May next year. Some were violently beheaded and
women were allegedly raped before being killed.
Even though no suspect
has been formally named in the killings, it is believed that the Ampatuan clan
is behind the massacre. It is alleged that this massacre is
politically-motivated and related to the upcoming elections. The Ampatuan clan,
which is currently governing the province, is a close political ally of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Tensions between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus
had been intensified after the Vice Mayor Ishmael Mangudadatu announced his plan
to run in the gubernatorial race against the Ampatuans. Currently, members of Ampatuan clan, including
Andal Ampatuan Jr., are under investigation by the police. Formal charges
against them have not yet been filed.
FORUM-ASIA believes that the massacre in
Maguindanao is another clear evidence of the culture of impunity that has been
pervading in the Philippines for many years. Killings like these are prevalent in
the country because perpetrators of these abuses are never brought to justice.
These perpetrators hide behind a police force and a judiciary that can easily
be bribed and influenced. These perpetrators also use the system of political
patronage to avoid being prosecuted and made accountable for their abuses.
The organisations also expressed its deep
concerns that the declared state of emergency in the Province of Maguindanao
and its neighbouring province and city is not the answer to address this
massacre. A state of emergency will give widespread power to agencies, such as
the military; it will only result to further abuses and acts of impunity in the
area. Instead, the government of the Philippines should ensure an independent
and transparent investigation that would speedily bring the perpetrators of
this horrendous massacre to justice.
We also call on the ASEAN Inter-governmental
Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Commission on Human Rights of the
Philippines (CHRP) to monitor the measures taken by the government to effectively
address acts of impunity and human rights abuses in the country.
