Amnesty International USA
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, November 23, 2009

Amnesty International Calls on Philippines Authorities to Investigate the Abduction and Killings of Journalists and Politician’s Family

Government Must Immediately Disband Private Armies and Paramilitaries in Run Up to National Elections

(Washington) Amnesty International condemns the killings of at least 21 civilians, including journalists and members of a politician’s family, in the southern Philippines province of Maguindanao. These murders are the first reported killings linked to the national elections scheduled for May 2010.

A group of approximately 45 people were ambushed and abducted by 100 armed men, according to reports. The military recovered the bodies of 13 women and eight men, some of which had been mutilated.

“These killings underline the danger facing civilians in the run up to the national elections,“ said Donna Guest, deputy Asia-Pacific director for Amnesty International. The authorities must immediately launch an independent and effective investigation into these murders and ensure that they do all they can to prevent more killings and other violence

Esmael Mangudadatu,the vice mayor of Buluan town, became a target of this violence when his sister and wife were attacked on their way to file his certificate of candidacy as provincial governor

Amnesty International has also been informed of at least 12 journalists that were among the targeted group. It is not known how many journalists were killed.

The province of Maguindanao has witnessed widespread election violence during previous polls. Private armies, often employed by rich and politically influential families in Mindanao, have historically committed abuses with impunity

“The government must prohibit and disband private armies and paramilitary forces immediately,” said Guest

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

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