From: RSF ASIA <asie@rsf.org>
Date: 2009/11/25
Subject: [rsfasie] PHILIPPINES: 26 journalists were killed in massacre,
still no arrests within governor's clan (Eng+Fr)
*Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières*
25 November 2009
*PHILIPPINES*
*26 journalists were killed in massacre, still no arrests within governor's
clan*
http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=35090
A total of 26 journalists were among those killed in the 23 November
massacre in Maguindanao province (on the southern island of Mindanao) by
alleged supporters of the province's governor, Andal Ampatuan Sr, according
to journalists who have gone to the massacre site.
"This bloodbath is beyond human understanding," a journalist from the nearby
city of Koronadal told Reporters Without Borders, adding: "I have lost 12 of
my colleagues in this massacre."
"The toll from this massacre keeps rising but the governor's son, the
leading suspect, still has not been questioned by the police," Reporters
Without Borders said. "President Gloria Arroyo says those responsible will
be arrested and tried but all the information coming from the field so far
indicates the contrary."
The press freedom organisation added: "Why have the governor's son and the
governor himself not been arrested? Are Mindanao Island's power barons more
powerful than the law itself? The Philippine government's credibility is at
stake."
Nonoy Espina of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP),
who is in Mindanao, told Reporters Without Borders: "Tallying and
identifying the bodies is slow, but it now seems that 26 journalists from
several towns were killed (…) The government is not doing enough to arrest
those responsible. How can the president's adviser be pleased about
obtaining undertakings from the governor when his son, the leading suspect,
is still free? Settling for mere promises is unacceptable after this
massacre."
*Information obtained by Reporters Without Borders*
Victims: At least 57 civilians, including 26 reporters, who were mostly from
General Santos and Koronadal (two cities in the nearby province of South
Cotabato). The journalists worked for local or national newspapers, radio
stations and TV stations.
The murdered journalists include Alejandro "Bong" Reblando of Manila
Bulletin, Henry Araneta of radio DZRH, Bart Maravilla of Bombo Radyo
Koronadal, Nap Salaysay of DZRO, Ian Subang of Pilipino Star Ngayon and
Dadiangas Times, and freelance reporters Humberto Mumay, Ranie Razon, Noel
Decena, John Caniba, Joel Parcon, Marife Montano, Art Belia and Jun Legarta.
The fatalities could include four UNTV reporters – Joy Duhay, Victor Nuñez,
Macario Ariola and Jimmy Cabillo. Philippine news media have also named Leah
Dalmacio of Mindanao Focus, Gina de la Cruz and Marites Cablitas of Today,
Andy Teodoro of the Mindanao Inquirer, Bienvenido Lagarte of the Sierra
News, Neneng Montaño of the weekly Saksi and Rey Merescon of MindaNews.
Suspects: A group of gunmen and policemen led by the governor's son, Andal
Ampatuan Jr, who is a mayor of Datu Unsay (a municipality in Maguindanao
province) and a member of the ruling party. He has not been arrested and is
believed to be at the family home in the provincial capital. According to
witnesses and army officers, the governor gave the go-ahead for his leading
rival's supporters to be ambushed while travelling in convoy.
The attackers reportedly raped, tortured and beheaded some of the victims.
Most of the bodies have been found in mass graves.
Where? The convoy's members were ambushed and kidnapped at around 9 a.m. on
the road to Shariff Aguak, one of the province's main towns. The massacre
took place near the villages of Salman and Malating, about 10 km from the
main road.
Why did this massacre take place? To prevent Esmael Mangundadatu, a
political rival of the Ampatuan clan, from running for governor in next
year's local elections. His wife, who was one of the victims, was leading a
convoy that planned to register him at an electoral office.
Why were the journalists murdered? According to local reporters, about 30
journalists were accompanying the convoy in order to cover this political
initiative. It is believed there were killed in order to eliminate all the
witnesses of the massacre of Esmael Mangundadatu's supporters. Lawyers and
local officials were also among the victims.
Actions of police and army: Several members of Maguindanao police have been
arrested and are being held in a barracks. The army has announced that the
Ampatuan clan's private militia will be disbanded.
After decreeing that tomorrow will be a day of national mourning, President
Arroyo today said: "This is a supreme act of inhumanity that is a blight on
our nation. The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will hunt them
until they are caught."
Reporters Without Borders representatives visiting Mindanao Island
(including the region where the massacre took place) in 2005 in order to
investigate the murders of journalists:
http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=13604
----------------
*PHILIPPINES*
*Au total 26 journalistes auraient été assassinés, mais le clan du
gouverneur n'est toujours pas inquiété*
http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=35087
Selon des journalistes présents sur les lieux du massacre dans la province
de Maguindanao, un total 26 journalistes auraient été tués par les partisans
du gouverneur Ampatuan, le 23 novembre 2009. "Ce bain de sang est au-delà de
la compréhension humaine. J'ai perdu douze de mes collègues dans cette
tuerie", a expliqué un journaliste de Koronadal (Mindanao) à Reporters sans
frontières après s'être rendu sur les lieux.
"Alors que le bilan de ce massacre ne cesse de s'alourdir, le fils du
gouverneur de la province, principal suspect, n'a toujours pas été inquiété
par la police. La présidente Gloria Arroyo affirme son intention d'arrêter
et de faire juger les auteurs de ce massacre, mais les informations
collectées sur le terrain indiquent pour l'instant le contraire. Pourquoi le
fils du gouverneur et le gouverneur lui-même n'ont-ils pas été tout
simplement appréhendés ? Les puissants barons de Mindanao seraient-ils plus
puissants que la loi ? La crédibilité du gouvernement philippin dépend de la
résolution de cette tragédie", a affirmé l'organisation.
Interrogé par Reporters sans frontières, Nonoy Espina de l'organisation de
journalistes NUJP, présent à Mindanao, a déclaré : "Le décompte et
l'identification des corps sont lents, mais il semble maintenant que 26
journalistes originaires de plusieurs villes ont été tués. (…) Le
gouvernement n'en fait pas assez pour arrêter les coupables. Comment le
conseiller de la présidente peut-il se féliciter d'avoir obtenu des
engagements du gouverneur, alors que son fils, principal suspect, est
toujours libre ? Face à ce massacre, il n'est pas décent d'accepter de
simples promesses."
*Informations recueillies par Reporters sans frontières :*
Victimes : Au moins 57 civils, dont 26 journalistes principalement
originaires de General Santos et Koronadal (province de Cotabato Sud). Les
reporters travaillaient pour des journaux locaux ou nationaux, des stations
de radios et des chaînes de télévision.
Parmi les journalistes assassinés, Alejandro "Bong" Reblando du Manila
Bulletin, Henry Araneta de la radio DZRH, Bart Maravilla de Bombo Radyo
Koronadal, Nap Salaysay de DZRO, Ian Subang du Pilipino Star Ngayon et
Dadiangas Times, ainsi que les reporters indépendants Humberto Mumay, Ranie
Razon, Noel Decena, John Caniba, Joel Parcon, Marife Montano, Art Belia et
Jun Legarta. Quatre reporters de la chaîne UNTV auraient été tués : Joy
Duhay, Victor Nuñez, Macario Ariola et Jimmy Cabillo. Des médias philippins
ont également donné les noms de Leah Dalmacio de Mindanao Focus, Gina de la
Cruz et Marites Cablitas de Today, Andy Teodoro du Mindanao Inquirer,
Bienvenido Lagarte du Sierra News, Neneng Montaño de l'hebdomadaire Saksi,
Rey Merescon de MindaNews.
Suspects : Un groupe d'hommes armés et de policiers dirigés par Andal
Ampatuan Jr, fils du gouverneur de la province de Maguindanao. Andal
Ampatuan Jr, maire de Datu Unsay et membre du parti présidentiel, n'a pas
été arrêté et serait dans la demeure familiale dans la capitale de la
province. Selon des témoins et des officiers de l'armée, le gouverneur avait
donné son accord pour cette embuscade afin d'empêcher son rival d'être
candidat.
Des assaillants auraient violé, torturé et décapité certaines victimes. La
plupart des corps ont été trouvés dans des fosses communes.
Où ? Les membres du convoi ont été pris en otages le 23 novembre vers 9
heures du matin sur la route allant à Shariff Aguak, l'une des principales
villes de la province. Le massacre a eu lieu à proximité des villages de
Salman et Malating, à une dizaine de kilomètres de la route principale.
Pourquoi ce massacre ? Pour empêcher l'homme politique Esmael Mangundadatu,
rival du clan Ampatuan, d'être candidat aux élections locales de 2010. Son
épouse, l'une des victimes, se rendait en convoi pour l'inscrire auprès de
l'administration électorale.
Pourquoi les journalistes ont-ils été assassinés ? Selon des reporters
locaux, la trentaine de journalistes présents dans le convoi pour couvrir
cette initiative politique, auraient été tués pour faire disparaître tous
les témoins des assassinats des proches d'Esmael Mangundadatu. Des avocats
et des fonctionnaires locaux sont parmi les victimes.
Actions de la police et l'armée : Plusieurs officiers de la police de
Maguindanao ont été placés aux arrêts dans une caserne. L'armée a annoncé
que la milice du clan Ampatuan serait désarmée.
Après avoir décrété le jeudi 26 novembre, jour de deuil national, Gloria
Arroyo a déclaré, le 25 novembre : "C'est un acte particulièrement inhumain
qui défigure notre nation. Les auteurs n'échapperont pas à la justice. La
loi les poursuivra jusqu'à ce qu'ils soient attrapés."
En mars 2005, des représentants de Reporters sans frontières s'étaient
rendus à Mindanao, notamment dans cette région, pour enquêter sur les
assassinats de journalistes :
http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=13603
Vincent Brossel
Asia-Pacific Desk
Reporters Without Borders
33 1 44 83 84 70
asia@rsf.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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