CLARK FRREEPORT — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has announced a series of activities to commemorate the 5th year of the Ampatuan Massacre on November 23 with an aggressive social media campaign, “58 dead, 5 years, 0 justice,” in keeping with the times.
On top of the list is a visit by an international mission led by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the NUJP from Nov 20 to 24 in General Santos City, Mindanao and Manila. The delegates will also meet with government officials: Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima (Nov 22, 2 p.m., DOJ Office); Task Force Usig Head, Col. Henry Libay (Nov 24, 10 a.m., Camp Crame).
Next will be an actual visit to the massacre site in Ampatuan, Maguindanao by the families of the victims of the massacre and officers and members of NUJP on Nov. 21. It will be followed by the unveiling of an “installation art, revisiting the Ampatuan Massacre” on Nov 23 at 9 a.m. at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.
This is an initiative of the advertising giant BBDO Guerrero. Later on the same day, the NUJP will join the Milyong Tanglaw para sa Katarungan at the EDSA Shrine at 5 p.m. NUJP chapters all over the country will hold similar candle-lighting activities in their respective areas.
NUJP-Pampanga will hold its commemoration of the Ampatuan Massacre on Saturday (Nov. 22) at 5 p.m. at the Salakot, Bayanihan Park, Balibago, Angeles City. Other chapters and other media organizations will also be holding forums and round-table-discussions in schools, colleges and universities. The NUJP has launched a public service ad campaign in coordination with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Press Institute.
The ads are aired on all TV and radio stations nationwide and published in major and local dailies. The campaign materials were produced by the Philippine Integrated Advertising Agency and WYD Productions. A social media campaign is also underway bearing the campaign line: “58 dead. 5 years. 0 justice. Ampatuan Massacre 11.23.2009.”
The NUJP is enjoining its members and fellow press freedom advocates to use the icon (a backhoe with red background) as their profile pic from Nov. 17 to 23 to serve as a reminder of the most gruesome attack on journalists in history.
The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) enjoins the commemoration by posting “black photos” in broadsheets and tabloids. Meanwhile, the IFJ-NUJP mission will be meeting with the families of the victims of the massacre, and the local media. The international mission delegates will also join the million candle activity at the EDSA Shrine on Nov. 23.
In a statement, the NUJP said the commemoration activities intend to “look back and see how five years of corruption and apathy have conspired to thwart not only justice for the Ampatuan 58 but allowed the impunity with which journalists, farmers, indigenous people, religious and others whose only crime is to exercise their right to free expression, continue to be murdered.”
“From today until November 23 and beyond, let us remind this government of its unfulfilled and broken promises of justice, of respect for our basic rights and freedoms, of good governance,” the NUJP statement said.
