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MANILA, Philippines ? A month after the gruesome mass murders of civilians in southern Mindanao, members of the Thai media expressed concern about the difficulties that the investigation on the Maguindanao massacre is facing.
In a statement issued December 23, the Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association said: ?Victims and their families may not receive justice because suspects in this killing involve influential local political groups connected to national politicians.?
?The killings continue to terrorize the Filipino media community. The massacre has had great impact on their ability and confidence to perform their duty to report and express opinions. The local media in the areas where the killing took place are especially affected and vulnerable.?
Thai media practitioners again expressed their condolences to the families of the victims. They also urged the Philippine government to ensure that families of the victims receive humanitarian assistance in both the short and long term.
?The killings have had a profound impact on the families of the journalists who were killed, particularly on the living conditions and future of the children who lost their families? main breadwinners,? they said.
The two media professional groups thus called on the Philippine government to conduct an intensive and proper investigation free of any political influence, and to bring the perpetrators, especially the masterminds, to justice.
They also expressed moral support to Filipino journalists. ?We stand side by side with fellow Filipino journalist in their continuing duty to deliver truth to the public.?
The two media professional groups, together with the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, sent representatives to join an international fact-finding mission to the Philippines last December 5 to 9.
On November 23, 2009, armed men abducted and killed 57 people in a political caravan in Maguindanao. Among the victims were 31 journalists and media workers from local and national newspapers and broadcasters whose only aim was to cover the event.
