10 February 2010

Alert

Indictment of nearly 200 in Maguindanao killings a welcome first step


(CPJ/IFEX) - New York, February 9, 2010 - An indictment in the Philippines of nearly 200 people in the November 23 killings of 57 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, is a welcome first step toward achieving justice in this terrible slaying, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ hopes that this signals a coming reversal in the country's abysmal record of impunity.

According to local and international news reports, the indictment charged the powerful local politician and political clan leader Andal Ampatuan Sr. and others (differing media reports put the number somewhere between 195 and 197) of conspiring to ambush and kill members of the rival Mangudadatu family and supporters, who were gunned down in Maguindanao province. The killings were allegedly carried out to prevent Esmael Mangudadatu from challenging the Ampatuans' control of the province in May's elections. The 32 journalists and media workers killed in the attack were in a convoy with Mangudadatu's family members and his political allies to enter his name as a candidate.

"This is a welcome fist step in addressing this terrible attack," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "But with a change in political administrations at the provincial and national level expected after May's elections, the Philippines' judiciary and prosecutorial teams must maintain the energy to bring what will be a very complex judicial process to completion."

CPJ data show the killings to be by far the single worst incident in which journalists have been killed. CPJ has expressed fears that there would not be a successful prosecution of the perpetrators.

The Philippines ranks second on CPJ's list of the deadliest countries for journalists, behind only Iraq. The country ranks sixth on our 2009 Global Impunity Index, and would move up if the Maguindanao killings are not fully prosecuted.

"A successful prosecution would help reduce the overwhelming level of impunity for those who kill journalists in the Philippines," Dietz said.

Source:

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 7th Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA
info (@) cpj.org
Phone: +1 212 465 1004
Fax: +1 212 465 9568
 

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More on this case

CMFR statement on second anniversary of Ampatuan massacre, "a turning point and a test" 23 November 2011 SEAPA presents appeal letter calling for an end to impunity 23 November 2011 Appeal for key suspect in Ampatuan massacre trials rejected 10 November 2011 IFJ demands safety guarantee at Ampatuan massacre trials 8 August 2011 "Special court" designated to handle Ampatuan massacre case 15 July 2011 Supreme Court allows live coverage of Ampatuan massacre trial 24 June 2011 IFJ welcomes arraignment of key Ampatuan massacre suspects 3 June 2011 Thirty-eight organisations call for freedom of expression and justice in the Ampatuan massacre trials 1 June 2011 Court demands explanation for critical remarks by journalist, victim's widow, in Ampatuan trial 5 May 2011 Five hundred days since massacre, it's time for Aquino to act, say Philippine and international organisations 8 April 2011 Add your voice in support of justice for murdered journalists 10 March 2011 CMFR statement on 15-month commemoration of Ampatuan Massacre 24 February 2011 International partnership meeting statement 24 November 2010 RSF pays tribute to victims, one year after Maguindanao massacre 24 November 2010 CMFR statement in commemoration of the first anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre 24 November 2010 IFEX remembers Maguindanao massacre on one-year anniversary 22 November 2010 Damning testimony for Ampatuan clan at Maguindanao massacre trial 10 September 2010 Lawyer interviewed as Maguindanao massacre trial resumes 2 September 2010 CPJ meets justice officials, urges anti-impunity policies 25 August 2010 Trial date set for Mindanao massacre trial 20 August 2010 Key witness in Ampatuan massacre case shot dead 24 June 2010 In letter to President-elect Aquino, CPJ calls for launch of probe into circumstances surrounding Maguindanao massacre 10 June 2010 Political interference suspected after charges against alleged masterminds of Maguindanao massacre are dropped 20 April 2010 Accused in Maguindanao massacre to remain in detention despite dismissal of rebellion charges 5 April 2010 Human Rights Watch calls on authorities to protect witnesses to Maguindanao massacre 11 March 2010 "Lest we forget" - Joint CMFR and SEAPA statement on the 100th day of the Ampatuan massacre 5 March 2010 Toll of media workers killed in massacre rises, attacks continue 20 January 2010 Media restrictions in Ampatuan trial must be lifted, says coalition of Filipino journalists 13 January 2010 Coalition of media groups calls for independent probe into massacre of journalists 9 December 2009 CMFR statement on the killings in Maguindanao 24 November 2009 Twelve reporters among victims of mass killing 23 November 2009

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