At least 68 journalists worldwide were killed for their work in 2009, the highest yearly tally ever documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the organization said in its year-end analysis. The record toll was driven in large part by the election-related slaughter of more than 30 media workers in the Philippine province of Maguindanao, the deadliest event for the press in CPJ history.

“Consciously put in place protections for human rights during martial law in Maguindanao,” the independent Commission on Human Rights urged the government including the military during International Human Rights Day (10 December).

CHR chair Leila de Lima: “In spite of the scale of efforts to directly or indirectly curb corruption, we come face to face with the realization that the breadth of the problem is not only significantly larger than the efforts against it, but corrupt practice has enjoyed a longevity and permanent entrenchment that requires nothing short of a society-wide transformation. Nothing illustrates the breadth of the issue more completely than the very issue occupying the most of the front page news – the Maguindanao Massacre. Maguindanao and the entrenchment of its political elite expounds the pervasiveness of a culture subservient to corruption across all stakeholders, from local and national duty-bearers, to an entire provincial population of rights-holders.”

December 10, 2009 — In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech today, President Barack Obama urged the global community to intervene early, and work together, in responding to mass atrocities. “The closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression,” he said.
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The fundamental principles of legality and due process have been abandoned, with security forces having unprecedented powers given by the head of state under this martial law.

The declaration of a state of Martial Law in Maguindanao sets a most dangerous precedent for the nation. Not since September 21, 1972 has there been any declaration of Martial Law, not even during the years of tumult under the Aquino, Estrada and, prior to this, the Arroyo regime. For the first time since 1972, the writ of habeas corpus has been suspended in an area in the Philippines.

“If President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thinks that she would continue to remain immune from suit by being a member of the House of Representatives in 2010, the president is dreaming,” human rights law group National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) said.

The brutal killing of 57 people in Maguindanao, including some 30 journalists, should be seen as a watershed moment for the Philippines, according to two United Nations human rights experts.

The November 23 Movement and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) invite you to take part in the International Day of Action against Impunity, a collective expression of outrage against the killings of journalists and innocent civilians in Maguindanao and the call for justice for all victims.

The reason Monday’s incident became international news is because of the high number of victims killed all at once and because so many were journalists and women. Had the killings been spread out over weeks and months, very few outside of the province would have heard of it.

A week after the gruesome massacre that claimed 64 lives in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, various cause-oriented groups today will hold a March Against Impunity to demand justice for the victims. The groups will assemble at the University of Sto. Tomas before marching toward the Don Chino Roces Monument in Mendiola Bridge. Joining the march are journalists, lawyers, artists, human rights activists, women’s rights advocates, students and religious.

During her stay in Belgium, Edita Burgos will attract the attention of European and Belgian politicians, human rights organisations, solidarity movements and the general public towards the human sights situation in the Philippines.

Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod strongly condemned Malacanang’s appointment of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as the new Department of National Defense (DND) chief replacing Gilbert Teodoro Jr.
Maglunsod described Gonzales’ appointment as ‘hell on earth’ as human rights violations are expected to further escalate with Gonzales, a known militarist, at the helm of the defense [...]

Amid the national jubilation over the latest win of Manny Pacquiao, cause oriented groups and farmers today retained an air of sadness as they commemorated the 5th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre.