By Stephen Lillie
British Ambassador to Manila
This week sees the first "anniversary" of one of the most notorious events in the Philippines' recent history. On 23 November 2009, 58 civilians were abducted and murdered in a brutal political killing in the southern province of Maguindanao. The atrocity was horrific both in its scale and in the brutality of the killing, with many of the victims raped and mutilated first. Thirty-two of the dead were from the media, a fact which earned the Philippines the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous country in the world for journalists last year.
The UK, like other members of the international community, was swift to condemn the massacre, and to call for justice. I told journalists at the time that the world was watching, and waiting to see whether justice would be done and human rights upheld. The Manila Bulletin newspaper took up my quote, with a front-page banner headline "The World is Watching."
One year on, the world is still watching--as the publication last week of a detailed report by Human Rights Watch on killings in the Southern Philippines demonstrates. But justice has yet to be done. There have been no convictions so far, despite some high-profile arrests. Many of those charged in connection with the massacre are still at large. Meanwhile, there are frequent reports about intimidation of witnesses and families of the victims.
In the past week, there has been a debate about whether the trial should be televised in order to demonstrate that justice is being done in the court room. I can hardly take exception to the Supreme Court's opposition to this: British court proceedings are not televised either. What is alarming, however, given the importance of this case, is the glacial pace of the trial, with the court sitting only once a week. This is because the judge has other cases to handle in parallel, a distinctive feature of the Philippine judicial system. Many commentators have voiced doubts as to whether the trial will ever be concluded. The Philippine justice secretary has pledged that the trial will be completed in the term of this administration. But this administration still has close on six years to run.
Meanwhile, serious questions remain about how such a horrific event as this could have occurred in the first place--and whether the conditions remain that would permit a repeat. The scale of the killings was exceptional, but political violence in the Philippines is not. Neither is the maintenance of private armies and militias. It is widely assumed that it was members of such a private army who were responsible for carrying out the Maguindanao massacre.
President Aquino has made clear his determination to see justice for the victims of the massacre. Clearly, there must be due process and no short cuts. But ensuring a timely and credible conclusion to this case remains crucial in order to reassure domestic and international opinion of the Philippine administration's commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
Before everyone sinks their blame to North Korea without ever thinking just because it's a communist country, the South Koreans with the constant proddings of the US merchants of death and their culture of sowing tensions so as to sell more military hardwares to South Koreans are to blame. Why this military exercise drills a frequent routine and with an increasing near-border target? Aren't you fools when you're provoking and then after wondering why there's retaliation after repeated warnings even with the sinking of a ship? F_ing bonehead this hawkish US policies! Aren't you humane enough to consider other peoples feelings? You warmongers and global plunderers! Aren't you insensitive when military drills are like going in a strangers neighborhood and reenacting how you will butcher the nearest target family. What if a joint Russia-China military exercise periodically happens in Cuba? What will US feel? Will that a sowing tension while the US drills outside their borders an exception? Stop listening to Uncle Sam, the pseudo-policeman of the world. It's ironic western media doesn't write details and just blaming anyone if they aren't aligned to the west. What a devil in sheep's clothing with a multitude of minions. Poor innocent civilians from both sides just because of this military drills. If a country is peace-loving, why there's still a need for military drills? You're shouting peace yet your actions shows the opposite. If you're persistent with military drills, then do it within your own countries and jurisdictions not on another countries' border. Through all these years even with a status quo between the two Koreas, the US is still in SoKor dictating what and not what to do. East Asia will surely be more peaceful without the warmongering US. And the US is even sending its aircraft carrier this Nov.28 to support the military drills, then calling it defensive? What a hypocrisy! Because of this, probably the two Koreas are now in the brink of another war whenever the US intervenes and asserts their masquerading evil ways. Look at the history of World War I how it started from a small incident to learn a lesson. Also look at the map where the aggressors SoKor and US are conducting the drills, an enclosed sea shared by NoKor and China. Then, why conduct their drills there? Before you believe the news nowadays about regimes, govts., oppressed citizens, etc; think and analyze first if it's true because the US is a big liar all through the years. Most often US intervention always leads to bloodshed of innocent civilians, wikipedia exposed this a few weeks ago.
Before everyone sinks their blame to North Korea without ever thinking just because it's a communist country, the South Koreans with the constant proddings of the US merchants of death and their culture of sowing tensions so as to sell more military hardwares to South Koreans are to blame. Why this military exercise drills a frequent routine and with an increasing near-border target? Aren't you fools when you're provoking and then after wondering why there's retaliation after repeated warnings even with the sinking of a ship? F_ing bonehead this hawkish US policies! Aren't you humane enough to consider other peoples feelings? You warmongers and global plunderers! Aren't you insensitive when military drills are like going in a strangers neighborhood and reenacting how you will butcher the nearest target family. What if a joint Russia-China military exercise periodically happens in Cuba? What will US feel? Will that a sowing tension while the US drills outside their borders an exception? Stop listening to Uncle Sam, the pseudo-policeman of the world. It's ironic western media doesn't write details and just blaming anyone if they aren't aligned to the west. What a devil in sheep's clothing with a multitude of minions. Poor innocent civilians from both sides just because of this military drills. If a country is peace-loving, why there's still a need for military drills? You're shouting peace yet your actions shows the opposite. If you're persistent with military drills, then do it within your own countries and jurisdictions not on another countries' border. Through all these years even with a status quo between the two Koreas, the US is still in SoKor dictating what and not what to do. East Asia will surely be more peaceful without the warmongering US. And the US is even sending its aircraft carrier this Nov.28 to support the military drills, then calling it defensive? What a hypocrisy! Because of this, probably the two Koreas are now in the brink of another war whenever the US intervenes and asserts their masquerading evil ways. Look at the history of World War I how it started from a small incident to learn a lesson. Also look at the map where the aggressors SoKor and US are conducting the drills, an enclosed sea shared by NoKor and China. Then, why conduct their drills there? Before you believe the news nowadays about regimes, govts., oppressed citizens, etc; think and analyze first if it's true because the US is a big liar all through the years. Most often US intervention always leads to bloodshed of innocent civilians, wikipedia exposed this a few weeks ago.
I totally agree with the author. The world IS still watching, and we are curious to see if this new administration will show that it is less corrupt than previous ones have been. IF so, then The Philippines can expect to have more and more investment from those who understand The Philippines and admire their culture. If this entire judicial process is allowed to stagnate, and drag on for up to 6 years, this will tell the rest of the world that The Philippines is not ready to receive substantial investment from foreigners who WANT to invest and improve the infrastructure here. I have family ties to The Philippines, and I would love for this matter to be dealt with SWIFTLY, showing that things have changed. It's time to take your place on the stage Philippines. Make it count.
You must be 12 years old. No sense of history, or logical thinking. Go ahead, piss of the USA as you are attempting, and see what happens to your economy. It won't be pretty. Caio.
because the country is full of untrusted people, the case of the maguindanao massacre still on its phase as the last years findings. the families of the victims are still hoping to find justice eventhough the case took so long. i hope also that the government is the one who leads the steps towards the resolution of the maguindanao massacre case.
I agree, and it would also be nice if it was done publicly so that the charges of corruption could be put to rest. If there is no corruption involved, why not let the process be completely transparent so the people can have more faith in their government and judicial system?
The world is too small a place to watch the Maguindanao Massacre. GOD Almighty in Heaven, with all Angels and Ssints are watching the development of this hideous case of wanton murder.May justice prevail and render the ultimate punishment to the guilty culprits.
Agreed - the lack of a continuous trial system seems a real problem. I believe there was a tryout of a continuous system under otherwise unlamented Chief Justice Narvasa (who preceded Hilario Davide) but the judges complained that they became so stressed they were having heart problems (Matthew Pollock)
Yeah, i am agree, i thin it's interesting!
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