LONDON - A joint forum of Amnesty International, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the National Union of Journalists in Great Britain and Ireland (NUJ), and the Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP) was held on Wednesday at the Human Rights Action Centre of Amnesty International in London.

The forum was mounted to commemorate the 100th day of seeking justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, a killing that claimed the lives of at least 57 civilians including 32 journalists.

It is the single worst crime against journalists, making the Philippines the most dangerous country for journalists outside Iraq.

The Maguindanao massacre brought to the attention of the international community warlordism and private armies of local government officials and starkly exposed a small number of families and clans that control a big chunk of national wealth and power.

“It’s a terrible human rights disaster for the Philippines and also for the entire world. This is the worst attack on journalists that we have probably seen anywhere. Just the horrific nature of this massacre demands that the world not forget about it and Amnesty International and the other groups gathered here in London want to remind the Philippine government and the Filipino people that even after 100 days we’re waiting for answers and we are waiting for justice,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Director.  

During the forum, the IFJ challenged the Arroyo government to address the ‘culture of impunity’ in the Philippines.

The IFJ was particularly critical of Arroyo's Executive Order 546 which allowed the creation of neighborhood-watch type armed "force multipliers" or Civilian Volunteer Organizations, in counterinsurgency operations. The IFJ linked the use of private armies to the growing number of extrajudicial killings and disappearances in the Philippines.

“‘When there is drip-drip killing of journalists, they tend to be numb after a while because it is happening everywhere but it is when you get big earthquakes like the massacre in Maguindanao that would really motivate them to act and do something about it. Since last November, journalists have been following closely the case and they have been in the ground in the Philippines. That is their mission now, to keep the motivation going,” said Jim Boumelha, president of IFJ.  

The forum also tackled enforced disappearances and political killings of trade union leaders and human rights activists. It analyzed and debated the issues surrounding political killings in the Philippines and indentified solutions and recommendations which include, among others, the disarming and disbanding of private armies.    

Zarifi, Boumelha, Benny Clutario of CHRP, Chris Cobb-Smith, a media safety consultant each gave a presentation and their own accounts of the massacre.  

After a film showing of a journalist’s account of the Maguindanao Massacre, Shane Enright of Amnesty International UK opened the floor for questions and comments. Hazel Galang of Amnesty International Section closed the program by leading a silent prayer and reading of the names of those who perished in the massacre.