It is time to end the spiral of violence

FILIPINO PRESS CLUB-UAE STATEMENT ON MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE

We, the members of the Filipino Press Club–UAE, condemn in the strongest terms possible the brutal massacre on November 23, 2009 of 57 civilians, including women, lawyers and journalists, in Ampatuan town of Maguindanao province in the Philippines.

We join with the victims’ families in their time of mourning and hope the authorities will act without delay to give them justice.

We are one with the Filipino people in grieving for the fallen heroes on our country's darkest day in journalism.

We deeply ache for the senseless loss of our brothers and sisters in the profession in history’s largest single massacre of journalists ever.

This human disaster is a chilling reminder of how our country has become hostage to the triad of dynastic politics, graft and tribalism that feed off each other.
It is time to end the spiral of violence this triad has bred that has robbed our people of any hope for a brighter future.

We call on the Arroyo government to act with resolve and deal with these barbaric killings with great urgency.

The timing and determination the Manila government takes in bringing the murderers to account will be a test of the function -- or the dysfunction –- of the country’s democratic institutions.

We call on the Filipino people to muster the collective courage to root out this evil from our country.

We resolve that this evil act will not deter us from exercising our freedom of expression and of the press as many of our brothers and sisters in the profession have done against all odds.

Mabuhay ang Mamamahayag na Pilipino!

Filipino Press Club-United Arab Emirates
Mariecar Jara-Puyod, President