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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on November 26, 2009

Women's groups denounce the cruelty perpetrated on the women victims in the Maguindanao massacre
By Gabrielle Icban

Two women's groups in Mindanao, the Mindanao Commission on Women and the Mothers for Peace, have expressed their outrage over the cruelty perpetrated by men on the women victims in the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre.

"We, the Mindanao Commission on Women and the Mothers for Peace, express our outrage at this new low in bestiality perpetrated by men on civilians but most specially on women," the two women's groups said in a statement.

On the reports that the women victims were raped, the women's groups said: "Rape is an issue of power, domination and control wielded by men over women. In times of conflict, it is used by men to ensure utter humiliation of the enemy. This latest incident by men, who are believed to belong to a private army, makes us shudder at what will happen in the days ahead if these criminals and their principals are not brought to justice."

Among those killed in the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre were women journalists, women lawyers, and members of the Mangudadatu clan: Genalyn Mangudadatu, wife of Buluan vice mayor Esmail Mangudadatu and two of Esmail's sisters, Farina Mangudadatu and Eden Mangudadatu – the vice mayor of Mangudadatu town.

"It is ironic that early this year Eden (Mangudadatu) participated in discussions of our project, Women Healing Communities: Preventing and Reducing Rido (clan feuds)," the Mindanao Commission on Women and the Mothers for Peace said.

The women's groups added, "During the session, she shared her thoughts about rido and how women played an important role in settling cases of clan violence."

Reporters Without Borders reported that at least 57 civilians, including 29 journalists, were killed last Nov. 23 in Maguindanao — the first killings linked to the May 2010 national elections.

"The toll from this massacre keeps rising but the governor's son, the leading suspect, still has not been questioned by the police," Reporters Without Borders said.

The press freedom organisation added: "Why have the governor's son and the governor himself not been arrested? Are Mindanao Island's power barons more powerful than the law itself? The Philippine government's credibility is at stake."

In a statement, Donna Guest, deputy Asia Pacific director of the human rights group called Amnesty International, said: "These killings underline the danger facing civilians in the run up to the national elections. The authorities must immediately launch an independent and effective investigation into these murders and ensure that they do all they can to prevent killings and other violence."

Amnesty International's deputy Asia Pacific director added: "The government must prohibit and disband private armies and paramilitary forces immediately. The authorities should also establish clear standards on human rights protection and ensure their implementation, particularly during the election period when politically—motivated killings could increase."

In an earlier statement, Reporters said: "The massacre took place a few hours after ... gunmen led by Andal Ampatuan Jr., the mayor of Shariff Aguak (a municipality in Maguindanao province), and a police inspector identified solely by the name of Dicay kidnapped members of a large convoy of supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu, an Ampatuan clan opponent who wants to run for governor. The convoy of Mangudadatu supporters, accompanied by journalists, had been on its way to an electoral bureau to file documents related to his candidacy, which the gunmen wanted to prevent."

For its part, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), in a statement said, "This incident not only erases all doubts about the Philippines being the most dangerous country for journalists in the world, outside of Iraq, it could very well place the country on the map as a candidate for a failed democracy."

"Running for office and voting are as much exercises of free will and expression as covering and reporting the news," NUJP added.

JAN. 21, 2010 UPDATE: The number of media workers who died in the November 23 Ampatuan massacre now stands at 32, including one body unaccounted for.

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