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UN experts say Maguindanao massacre must be start of reform in Philippines
Two United Nations independent experts say the massacre of civilians in November in Maguindanao province in Southern Philippines, should be seen as a watershed moment for reform in the Philippines.
Philip Alston
The victims were reportedly shot at close range as they were traveling to file nomination papers for elections next May.
Philip Alston, an expert on extrajudicial executions and Frank La Rue, who deals with freedom of opinion and expression, say a response to the brutal killing of close to 60 people, including 30 journalists should go beyond standard murder investigations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the two experts say the initial response of the Government has been encouraging.
However, they add that the massacre also demands a more extensive reflection on the elite family-dominated manipulation of the political processes and the need to eliminate such practices in order to assure the future of democracy in the Philippines.
They also note that elections in the Philippines have traditionally become occasions for widespread extrajudicial executions of political opponents and stress the need for the authorities to take measures to prevent killings in the run-up to the May elections.
Bissera Kostova, United Nations
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