WAN-IFRA condemns Philippines massacre

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has condemned the massacre of more than 30 journalists and their staff in the Philippines and called on the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Philippines is currently one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist.

"WAN-IFRA condemns vehemently this unique and terrible mass crime, most probably the deadliest ever single slaughter of journalists," said a resolution from the Board of WAN-IFRA, meeting in Hyderabad, India, on the eve of the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum, the global summit meetings of the world's press.

"At the same time, WAN-IFRA is appalled that 100 reporters have previously been murdered in the Philippines since 1986 and that 24 murder cases remain unresolved," the resolution said.

WAN-IFRA issued six other resolutions:

Condemn the jailing of journalists and the lack of press freedom in China, and to call on Chinese authorities to release imprisoned journalists, writers and human rights activists (Full resolution);
Urge Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to act decisively to resolve crimes committed against journalists in Russia, where five journalists have been killed since the beginning of the year (Full resolution);
Condemn the continued imprisonment of 27 journalists in Cuba and the mounting criminalisation of free speech under President Raúl Castro's government (Full resolution);
Express its grave concern at the mounting judicial actions and intimidations facing journalists and independent media in Turkey (Full resolution);
Call on Pakistani authorities to act decisively to resolve crimes committed against journalists in the country, where eight have been killed since the beginning of the year, and to do everything possible to bring those responsible for their murder to justice (Full resolution);
Condemn the imprisonment of journalists in Yemen as part of a government campaign to intimidate and silence the independent press (Full resolution).

In the Philippines massacre, the murdered journalists were traveling with a group of politicians and political supporters who were planning to file candidacy papers for Esmael Mangudadatu, an opposition gubernatorial candidate in Maguindanao province. They were along at least 57 people killed in the attack, which occurred on 23 November 2009. 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 they were killed and buried in a mass grave. There is evidence that the journalists were specifically selected for murder.

The resolution from WAN-IFRA urges the Philippine government to act with decisiveness, bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice, and end the climate of impunity in which this massacre is rooted. It also calls on the Philippine government to guarantee independent media access to Maguindanao province, as accurate, independent and timely reporting in this region is more critical than ever, and to take full responsibility for the security and safety of journalists. Read the full resolution.