Stop Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines!

Gov’t urged to explain journalist’s inclusion in Army 'hit list'
05/28/2009 | 06:57 PM

MANILA, Philippines — An international media group urged government Thursday to explain the inclusion of journalist Carlos Conde in the “order of battle" of the Philippine Army.

In a statement on its website, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the list includes more than 100 people linked to "legal fronts" of communist rebels.

“Any government-produced document that openly vilifies legal personalities and organizations as enemies of the state has the potential to endanger these people’s lives," IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

The IFJ rejected a statement by the spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 10 Infantry Division, Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia, dated May 26, claiming the order had been falsified and manipulated by the congressman who discovered it.

“The Government of Gloria Arroyo-Macapagal (sic) must accept responsibility not just for its silence on impunity against journalists but for actively encouraging suspicion and violence against the Philippines media community," Park said.

On the other hand, IFJ cited a statement by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) voicing fears for its more than 800 members in Davao and Southern Mindanao.

Conde, a free lance journalist who contributes to the New York Times, among other foreign and local publications, was a former secretary-general of NUJP.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), of which Conde is a member, has also denounced the hit list and asked Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to do something about it.

IFJ said the failure of the Arroyo government to intervene to end the culture of impunity against the media has earned the Philippines an unenviable reputation as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in the world.

"Of the seven journalists killed in the Philippines in 2008, six were murdered. Already this year, two journalists have survived murder attempts after the fatal shooting of radio broadcaster Ernie Rollin on February 23," it noted.

Also, it said more than 60 journalists have been killed since President Arroyo came into power in 2001.

"The IFJ calls on regional and international affiliates and the international media community to send messages of solidarity to the NUJP as it continues its courageous work to uphold press freedom in the Philippines despite the great risks," it said.

It said messages of solidarity may be sent to nujphil@gmail.com or ifj@ifj-asia.org.

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide.

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/163307/Govt-urged-to-explain-journalists-inc...