Philippines: WAN-Ifra lashes out after 12 journalists die

Nov 24, 2009 at 04:01 pm by Staff


WAN-Ifra has lashed lout at the Philippines "climate of impunity" following the death of 12 journalists there on Monday. The global association of the world's press expressed "absolute dismay and condemnation of the horrific massacre" in an attack on a convoy in the southern Philippines that killed at least 46 people. The journalists are reported to have been travelling with a group of politicians and political supporters planning to file nomination papers for Esmael Mangudadatu, an opposition gubernatorial candidate in Maguindanao province, when the attack occurred on November 23. According to local reports, around 100 armed men, allegedly supporters of the current governor, ambushed the group and took the victims to a remote location where some of them were killed and buried in a mass grave. More members of the group are missing, and are also believed to have been murdered. There is evidence that the journalists were specifically selected for murder. In a statement, WAN-Ifra called on the Philippine government to "urgently investigate this monstrous attack" and bring its perpetrators to justice. The association said an "unprecedented" government response was necessary, in a country with a long history of violence against journalists and civilians. The organisation condemned a "climate of impunity" in the Philippines, said to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Nineteen journalists have been killed since the beginning of the year, including the 12 in the recent massacre. According to reports, at least 24 journalist murders have gone unsolved in the Philippines over the last decade, and more than 100 journalists were killed since 1986.
Sections: Newsmedia industry

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