Done By Law

DBL: Political violence and the law in the Philippines: 12 January 2009

On 23 November 2009, 57 people were massacred near the town of Ampatutan in the province of Maguindanao in the Philippines. A convoy of vehicles was carrying civilians, journalists and lawyers, who were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu. Mangudadatu was challenging mayor in the forthcoming Maguindanao election. The convoy was stopped, the people abducted and later murdered. It was reported that witnesses and people in the cars on either side of the convoy were also massacred.

Andal Ampatuan, Jr and a number of others have been arrested for the massacre.  His father and several other clan members have been charged with rebellion. On 5 January 2010, Andal Ampatuan, Jr pleaded not guilty. The Ampatuan clan are known for being loyal supporters of President Gloria Arroyo. Since the election of President Gloria Arroyo in 2001, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have reported on the rise of serious human rights abuses in the Philippines. President Arroyo is charged with having created a culture of impunity for those committing politically motivated violence – which includes hundreds of extra-judicial killings and thousands of individual documented human rights violations.

Tonight we are joined by Neri Colmenares, Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers – who lost colleagues in the massacre.  He will be discussing political violence and the law in the Philippines -  including an interesting proposition as to how Australian lawyers can actively help human rights in the Philippines.