10 November 2011

Alert

Appeal for key suspect in Ampatuan massacre trials rejected


(IFJ/IFEX) - 10 November 2011 - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in welcoming a Court of Appeals decision rejecting the exclusion from trial of one of the main suspects in the Ampatuan Town Massacre.

Zaldy Ampatuan, a key suspect in the massacre of 58 people, including 32 media workers, on November 23, 2009 in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines, filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Court of Appeals in relation to the charges against him.

His petition concerned a decision by Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra in April 2010 which found no probable cause for Ampatuan to be considered a suspect in the massacre case. Agra later overturned the decision following a public outcry by families of the massacre victims and press freedom activists.

With the Court of Appeals ruling on November 8, the NUJP says "there is no longer any reason to further delay the indictment" of Ampatuan and his co-accused.

"Almost two years after the worst atrocity ever committed against media workers, the victims' families, colleagues and press freedom defenders eagerly await justice for those brutally murdered in the massacre," IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

"The IFJ sincerely hopes that proceedings in these trials can now be allowed to continue unobstructed."

The trials of the 197 suspects in the massacre have been frustrated by Zaldy Ampatuan's appeal and a request for a transfer to "hospital arrest", after being admitted to the Philippine Heart Center for a medical check up.

In July, Philippines Justice Secretary Leila de Lima rejected Zaldy Ampatuan's offer to act as a state witness and testify against his alleged co-conspirators. Ampatuan, the suspended governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), sought to be removed from the list of suspects in exchange for testimony against his father, Andal Ampatuan Sr, and brother Andal Ampatuan Jr.

The IFJ joins the NUJP in calling for the prompt arraignment of Zaldy Ampatuan and all other suspects awaiting indictment. Only 93 of the 197 suspects are in custody, and to date only 64 have been arraigned. Of the six members of the Ampatuan clan accused as principals, only two - Andal Sr. and Andal Jr. - have been arraigned.

The NUJP and other press freedom groups in the Philippines will stage several events to commemorate the second anniversary of the massacre on November 23, including a march to Mendiola, near Malacañang Presidential Palace in Manila.

Source:

International Federation of Journalists
International Press Centre, Residence Palace
Bloc C, second floor, Rue de la Loi, 155
1040 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 2352207
Fax: +32 2 2352219
 

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From other IFEX members

Appellate court affirms Zaldy Ampatuan's indictment in massacre case (CMFR)
FFFJ-NUJP joint statement on the expiry of the freeze order on the assets of the Ampatuans (CMFR)

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 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 Indictment of nearly 200 in Maguindanao killings a welcome first step 10 February 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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