One year after what the Ampatuan massacre of journalists in the Philippines more than 100 suspects remain at large – the World Association of Newspapers has warned.
Some 32 journalists and media workers were killed during a massacre of 57 people in the Philippines last year. According to WAN, at least 68 journalists have been killed in the Philippines since 1992 but only five people have been convicted.
In a letter to the Philippines president WAN said: “The failure to arrest and convict those responsible for the Ampatuan massacre is just the latest contribution to a widespread culture of impunity that surrounds the murder of journalists in the Philippines.
While welcoming the trials of 19 of 196 suspects now underway, the letter condemned the lack of action against other suspects and expressed concern at the “multiple instances of intimidation and violence against witnesses” that have surrounded the official investigation.
WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum called on president Aquino “to end the culture of impunity and provide an environment where journalists and media professionals can go about their daily duties without fear of violence”.
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