UNESCO head urges full, swift probe into Philippine massacre
UNESCO head urges full, swift probe into Philippine massacre
11:51, November 29, 2009 
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The head of Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)condemned the recent massacre in the Philippines, and urged the government to carry out a full and swift investigation into the murder, the organization said Saturday in a statement.
"This monstrous crime must not go unpunished," Irina Bokova, direct-general of UNESCO said. "I condemn this outrage and urge the government of the Philippines to act swiftly, using all the resources at its disposal to bring the perpetrators to justice."
"The barbaric killings of the people in the convoy ... were clearly an attack against democracy and democratic processes. Furthermore, the killing of journalists violates the rights of the Philippine people to be freely and fairly informed of political developments," Bokava said.
In south Minguindanao Province of the Philippines on Nov. 23, around 100 pro-government militiamen herded a caravan of about 60 journalists, lawyers, and supporters of Buluan vice town mayor Esmail Magundadatu to a remote area in broad daylight before attacking them with M-16 rifles and machetes.
Early reports said police and soldiers had discovered 57 bodies at the massacre site.
Their deaths bring to 34 the number of journalists killed in the Philippines this year.
Filipino government officials said on Thursday a son of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. was detained after military took over the provincial capital and two municipality halls in the province.
Source: Xinhua
"This monstrous crime must not go unpunished," Irina Bokova, direct-general of UNESCO said. "I condemn this outrage and urge the government of the Philippines to act swiftly, using all the resources at its disposal to bring the perpetrators to justice."
"The barbaric killings of the people in the convoy ... were clearly an attack against democracy and democratic processes. Furthermore, the killing of journalists violates the rights of the Philippine people to be freely and fairly informed of political developments," Bokava said.
In south Minguindanao Province of the Philippines on Nov. 23, around 100 pro-government militiamen herded a caravan of about 60 journalists, lawyers, and supporters of Buluan vice town mayor Esmail Magundadatu to a remote area in broad daylight before attacking them with M-16 rifles and machetes.
Early reports said police and soldiers had discovered 57 bodies at the massacre site.
Their deaths bring to 34 the number of journalists killed in the Philippines this year.
Filipino government officials said on Thursday a son of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. was detained after military took over the provincial capital and two municipality halls in the province.
Source: Xinhua
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