UN, EU, US condemn Maguindanao massacre

MANILA, Philippines - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the European Commission, as well as the US and British embassies in Manila have joined the chorus of condemnation of the massacre of more than 50 people, including journalists and lawyers, in Maguindanao last Monday.

“The Secretary General is saddened by reports of the brutal killing of more than 50 civilians in Maguindanao province, Southern Philippines. He condemns this heinous crime committed in the context of a local election campaign,” a statement from the Secretary General’s office read.

Ban called for the perpetrators of the “heinous” crime to be brought to justice.

President Arroyo declared on Tuesday a state of emergency in Maguindanao province following Monday’s killings, which have been described as the worst election-related violence in the nation’s history.

“The Secretary General extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and hopes that no effort will be spared to bring justice and to hold the perpetrators accountable,” the statement said.

Outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said “such barbaric acts violate the most fundamental principles of human rights and democracy.”

“On behalf of all American and Filipino employees of the Embassy, Ambassador Kenney offers heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims,” the US embassy statement said.

“We strongly believe that a thorough, rapid, and transparent investigation must be conducted, and those responsible must be brought to swift justice,” Kenney said.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the barbaric killing of innocent civilians, including women, journalists and lawyers, who were preparing to participate in the electoral process in the Philippines,” said European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

“I call for calm in the period leading up to the forthcoming elections scheduled for May 2010. In the face of this atrocity, the rule of law and democracy have to prevail,” she said.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie said: “I condemn this brutal massacre of innocent civilians, including women, journalists and lawyers. I hope that the authorities in the Philippines will take urgent action to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further escalation of violence in the run-up to next year's elections here.”

“Effective action will be crucial in maintaining confidence in the Philippines' commitment to protect human rights,” he added.

No accountability

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said the massacre was an effect of the failure of the Arroyo administration to hold accountable perpetrators of unexplained killings.

It urged the government to initiate an independent probe on the murders to be led by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Extrajudicial killings will continue to be a serious problem in the Philippines until they are competently, transparently, and impartially investigated, and perpetrators, including members of security forces, are fully prosecuted,” Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said.

“The history of election-related violence in the Philippines makes the lead up to the May 2010 elections a period of special concern,” Pearson said.

“Far too many people have been gunned down in the Philippines while President Arroyo has sat on her hands,” she said. “The possible involvement of state forces in the Maguindanao massacre means that security personnel shouldn’t be allowed to interfere in an independent investigation.”

Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern that the administration’s personal relationship with the Ampatuans would put into question the impartiality of an investigation.

“Ampatuan family members should be questioned by the National Bureau of Investigation, not having chats with senior presidential advisors,” Pearson said, referring to presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs Jesus Dureza’s meeting with the Ampatuan family after the killings.

“President Arroyo’s words on justice will ring hollow so long as the perpetrators of this terrible massacre remain unpunished,” she said.

The massacre victims include the wife of Buluan town Vice Mayor Ishmail Mangudadatu and some relatives. Reports said Mangudadatu’s wife and companions – including the journalists – were on their way in a convoy to the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak to file a certificate of candidacy for governor on his behalf when they were waylaid in a secluded area in Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town by some 100 armed men led by Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. The victims were mutilated and some of the slain women appeared to have been raped.

The head of Maguindanao police, Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay, was relieved of his duties on allegations that he took part in the killings.

Ampatuan, son and namesake of the Maguindanao governor, is also eyeing the province’s gubernatorial post. 

Human Rights Watch noted that only six of the hundreds of cases of political killings and disappearances under the Arroyo administration have been successfully prosecuted.

The killings surged after Arroyo's declaration in June 2006 of an “all-out war” against the communist New People’s Army.

Still safe for tourists

Despite the Maguindanao violence, the Department of Tourism said the country remains safe for tourists.

“This kind of incident does not happen everyday and is just an isolated case while tourist destinations in Makati, Boracay, Bohol are safe and still enjoyable destinations for tourists,” Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said.

Durano also called on foreign embassies to be specific in case they would advise their citizens against traveling to the Philippines.

“We cannot stop foreign embassies from issuing travel advisories, but we are asking them to specify the place so that other tourist destinations would not be affected,” he said.

“As far as we are concerned, this isolated case in Central Mindanao will not affect the country’s tourists arrivals since it is not part of the main tourist circuit,” Durano explained.

He added that Davao, CARAGA and Cagayan de Oro, which are the most popular tourist destinations in Mindanao, are far from the site of the recent violence. With Mayen Jaymalin