Media groups’ statements on Maguindanao massacre

EDITORIALS

(The Northern Philippine Times prints the following statements from media colleagues in solidarity on outrage over the massacre of more than 50 persons composed of lawyers, journalists, supporters of an aspiring candidate and innocent civilians in Maguindanao)
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November 23 was a dark day for the media community, civil society and the Philippine nation as a whole. The violent incident in Maguindanao did not only desecrate our continuing struggle for press freedom but it desecrated all levels of democracy such as right to life.

The carnage that claimed lives of 22 people -- journalists, women and civilians, only mirrored how rich was the culture of violence that was being carried out by people who continue to abuse their powers, and how poor our government was in securing our rights as ordinary people.

While election related violence is not new in the Cordillera region where political warlords and dynasties exist, and where private armies are utilized at a maximum to prove that they are in command, we do not stay afloat to seek an end to the supremacy of corruption of wealth and abuse of power.

Let us open our eyes to these harsh realities because the moment we shut ourselves from these realities, a bullet may strike anytime in our midst soon…ignorance is an ally of perpetrators of violence.

Being silent in these times when all sectors of society are calling for swift justice for those who were killed, would be an exercise in futility. The carnage did not only send a message that bloodshed was necessary for those who wanted to exercise their might, it also sent us a message that anyone across sectors of society would not be spared in senseless killings and threats of blood bath.

While we demand for swift justice for those who departed and accountability from Arroyo administration, we also call for rage! Let us not be silenced by the sound of gunshots, instead, let us express our rage to start an end to the culture of violence which only perpetuates political warlords. We call for people from various sectors of society to speak up and let your voice be heard. Let us be vigilant. Let us not falter in our vigilance. – National Union of Journalists in the Philippines
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We, members of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) join the international community in condemning in the strongest possible terms the brutal massacre of 48 persons, including 13 journalists from different national and local media outfits, in Maguindanao Monday morning. The recent blood bath committed against journalists who were simply performing their duties and responsibilities in delivering the news to the people is uncalled for and deserves the highest denunciation since such barbaric act of insensitive, unscrupulous and irresponsible politicians in Maguindanao have no place in its world.

We call upon President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to exert all possible efforts within their powers to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime and let them suffer the consequences of their criminal acts that led to the loss of lives of innocent people, including women, journalists and lawyers.

We sympathize with the relatives of the murder victims, especially their children, who rely on them as a source of living. It is unfortunate that the Philippines has again been placed in the limelight for making history in journalism with the murder of 13 journalists in a short span of time thereby making the country as the most dangerous place for journalists in the global village.

The recent Maguindanao massacre should be a wake up call to the government in teaching the armed bandits that no one is above the law, thus, appropriate resources must be poured by concerned agencies in strengthening the country’s weak military, abandoning the politicized police and crushing the warlordism in the area.

Let be the massacre a wakeup call for all journalists nationwide to continue the love for their work by being advocates of peace and order through the exposition of truth in all avenues to serve as the government’s guide in the enforcement of appropriate laws and regulations to curb violence in the countryside. -- BCBC