U.S. congress condemns Philippine massacre

Agreed to December 18, 2009

One Hundred Eleventh Congress of the United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas, on November 23, 2009, 57 unarmed civilians were slain in Maguindanao in the worst politically motivated violence in recent Philippine history;

Whereas those killed were on their way to file nomination papers on behalf of Ismael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan, who intended to run against Andal Ampatuan, Jr. who is currently mayor of Datay Unsu, in next year's gubernatorial elections to succeed Andal Ampatuan, Sr., the father of Andal Ampatuan, Jr.;

Whereas many of those killed were women and children, including the wife of Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu and his two sisters;

Whereas most of the women were reportedly raped and their bodies were mutilated after being shot;

Whereas as of December 2, 2009, initial charges have been filed in connection with the massacre , according to press reports;

Whereas the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists reports that at least 30 journalists and media workers were killed in the Maguindanao massacre ;

Whereas, the Committee to Protect Journalists reports that prior to the Maguindanao massacre , 30 journalists had been killed in the Philippines since 2000, and suspects were prosecuted in no more than 4 cases, putting into question the safety of journalists and the integrity of independent journalism in the Philippines;

Whereas government prosecutors and judges with jurisdiction over the massacre have allegedly received threats and have been told to `go slow' on the investigation;

Whereas President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of emergency in Maguindanao the day after the massacre , vowing that `no effort will be spared to bring justice to the victims';

Whereas extrajudicial killings and election-related violence are common in the Philippines, though never on this scale and rarely with this level of brutality; and

Whereas the United States and the Philippines share a strong friendship based on shared history and the commitment to democracy and freedom: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--

(1) regrets the senseless killing of unarmed civilians and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the 57 victims;

(2) condemns the culture of impunity that continues to exist among clans, politicians, armed elements, and other persons of influence in the Philippines;

(3) calls for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation and prosecution of those who are responsible for the massacre , including those who committed the killings and anyone who may have ordered them, and that the proceedings be conducted with the highest possible level of professionalism, impartiality, and regard for witness protection to assure the Filipino people that all the responsible persons are brought to justice;

(4) calls for an end to extrajudicial killings and election-related violence;

(5) calls for freedom of press and the safety of the reporters investigating the massacre;

(6) urges the Departments of State and Justice and other United States Government agencies to review their assistance programs to the Government of the Philippines, and to offer any technical assistance, such as forensics support, that Philippine authorities may request; and

(7) reaffirms the United States commitment to working alongside Philippine authorities to combat corruption, terrorism, and security threats.

Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.

Peaceweavers statement

Mindanao Peaceweavers is the network of peace networks here in Mindanao, here is their statement

Gut check for those who report and advocate..

click for here for "Killings leave media stunned."

Hope for the Future

Civil Society Recommendations Regarding the Maguindanao Massacre of November 23, 2009

Cooling Off: The agreement by the aggrieved families, friends and relatives to a 30 day cooling-off period to allow the preliminary and impartial investigation into the killing. Preliminary findings should be released by law enforcement officials at the end of the 30 days in order to provide understanding into the incident and clarify further options for the victims.

Peoples Justice: Convening of a civil society work group to make preliminary recommendations related to this incident at the end of the 30 day period in the larger picture of justice practices (i.e. legal, indigenous, Islamic, restorative and transitional) and conflict transformation in Mindanao.

Reconciling and Truth-telling Commission: A Commitment of seed funds from local and global partners for the creation of a Peoples Commission on Reconciling and Truth-telling in Mindanao (Peoples CORT) under the auspices of the United Nations or another trusted International non-Governmental Organization. The recommendations of the aforementioned civil society work group will provide basis for the establishment of a truly Cultural Process addressing the just needs of victims and the wider community. This ideas has been discussed for too long, it’s time to give it wings.

Violence Prevention: Coordination between the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army and other law enforcement investigating the incident with the Joint Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH) in order to prevent inadvertent hostilities with the MILF or other armed groups.

Peacebuilders Statement on the Maguindanao Massacre

We deplore and condemn the vicious killings in Maguindanao Province yesterday, Monday November 23. At least 46 people, including public servants, journalists, fathers and wives, were murdered while exercising their democratic rights to register an election candidate and serving as media practitioners providing the information and transparency that undergirds a healthy society. This incident is a serious blow to that crucial work in society and may be the largest killing of media personnel ever, according to the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.

In particular we mourn the loss of Jun Jun Legarta, a field reporter for Mindanao Bulletin, and Juvy Unto, a field reporter based in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat. They are the cousins of our Peacebuilders staff member Jester Valdez.

Peacebuilders Community Inc. has been doing peace education, advocacy and conflict transformation in Mindanao since 2006. We have seen over the years how easy it is for a localized incident to spark wider violence and how negative perceptions of conflict often reduce the capacity to address these flare-ups in creative non-violent ways.

We therefore decry the media using this incident to war-type the image of Mindanao. This is seen in today’s Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) headline picture showing a column of tanks in Datu Piang Maguindanao on May 26 in the offensive against the MILF, a war story and location of an unrelated image piggy-backed onto the current tragedy. This only cements that image of violence in the national consciousness and the idea that military action is the appropriate or only response.

We therefore call on the editors of the PDI to balance their reporting with the pictures and stories of the many peace workers, journalists and advocates struggling to birth a better reality in Mindanao. We are especially concerned about the following:

1. With the increased military and police presence in an already highly militarized and volatile area, we are concerned about a potential disintegration of the ceasefire between the army of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which was only reestablished this past July.

2. The government might take this as an opportunity to go after suspects accused of human rights violations in the recent hostilities between the MILF and GRP, which could lead to displacement of civilians in other communities.

3. Spillover of communal violence into surrounding communities and the escalation of a cycle of retaliation between involved individuals, families or communities, or the settling of unrelated grudges by unrelated parties through violent means.

PBCI has learned that within every painful situation such as this lay seeds of peace and hope that will grow when watered by justice and truth. While there is tragedy and danger in this reality, there is also an opportunity to transform this into something new and better.

Political violence hits journalists hard in Philippines

She didn't actually know where she was going as she left the house this morning. Carol, my neighbor and the editor for the Mindanews media center, is following the breaking story of a massacre about 4 hours away from where we live. But she didn't know where they would bring the bodies. Nearly a dozen journalists were also killed in the atrocity. For more details, click here

Brief Notes on Spirituality: 1

Faith is a gift to be received.

Not only is it a gift, but a necessary gift in the life of the spirit (spirituality). To refuse the gift of faith means to deny our innate need and desire for connection to the other - both the human other and the divine other. Doubt does not kill faith, rather, doubt is part of the daily struggle in understanding the honor bestowed on us in receiving the gift of faith. So don’t be anxious over the doubt that often exists in our spirit, but follow it's voice plumbing the depths of our faith understanding.

The opposite of faith is independence, not doubt. Independence is more deadly, for it is a refusal to genuinely acknowledge and receive the gift of faith and of the one who gives it. The world is full of people who take gifts, but few who receive them. If we are honest, we realize that we often take what we crave rather than receive what we need and desire most deeply. This happens when we listen to the voice of independence rather than receiving the gift of faith.

Let us pray for the humility and honesty to receive faith as the antidote to our independence from our fellow humanity and our God.