PHILIPPINES: Tribute concert, online campaign launched on Maguindanao massacre
(Hong Kong, February 23, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has today launched an online campaign on the Maguindanao Massacre case, one of the worst acts of violence in the Philippines' recent history, aimed at documenting and monitoring the progress of the prosecution of the case in court.
The online campaign, titled: "Justice for victims of Maguindanao Massacre", was launched after the Department of Justice (DoJ) decided to prosecute the 197 individuals for charges of multiple murder on February 5, 2010 for the death of 57 people in the massacre - 32 of whom are journalists and two human rights lawyers.
Today also mark the three month anniversary of the massacre.
The AHRC is aware that one of the suspects, Datu Andal Ampatun Jr, a town mayor of Ampatuan and scion of a political clan in Maguindanao, has since been held in detention and is facing trial following his arrest in November 26, but it is only recently that the other respondents have been included in the murder charges.
"Seeking legal remedies in the Philippine's system of justice had been perpetually undermined by way of political interference, excessive court delays and failure by the prosecutors and investigators to ensure that the cases they are pursuing are effectively prosecuted", AHRC writes in its online campaign website.
In the Philippines, the filing of charges against the perpetrators of human rights violations is an initial and small part of the perpetually lengthy and tedious process of pursuing perpetrators in court to hold them accountable. Thus, the assurances are negligible, even if cases are filed in court, unless the progress in court is critically monitored and exposed to the public.
"(the online campaign) seeks to document, to conduct follow-up and to provide insights as to how the prosecution of cases involving violations of rights takes place within the Philippines' criminal justice system", its website added.
In addition to the launching of the online campaign, the AHRC also announces that a group of local publishers, the Publishers Association of General Santos City and South Cotabato (PAGES) in General Santos City, has hosted a tribute concert last night at 8pm for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, particularly the 32 journalists who had been killed in performing their duty.
The tribute concert, dubbed: "Songs for Freedom and Justice", "aims to drum up public awareness in commemorating the three month anniversary of the November 23 Maguindanao Massacre", according to the PAGES's announcement.
One of the performers was Eric Gancio of Yano. His band is one of the alternative Filipino bands that saw the peak of its popularity in the Philippines in the 90s. Eric performed as the guest performer during the concert.
Apart from him, various local bands from Socsargen (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos) have also been invited to perform. The concert was held at the Oval Plaza covered court in General Santos City.
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
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