on the other hand there are also biased journalists (or their editors/media company owners) that intentionally distort the facts, which obviously results in animosity towards them, ofc no one can justify bloodbath as a measure of revenge
as for this incident, it seems like quite a big thing - usually its only one or a few journalists that get killed or kidnapped around the world (at some particular region), so 12 is afaik quite unusual
just checked, there are even more casualties (25.11.):
At least 57 civilians, including 26 reporters
Suspects: A group of gunmen and policemen led by the governor’s son, Andal Ampatuan Jr, who is a mayor of Datu Unsay (a municipality in Maguindanao province) and a member of the ruling party. He has not been arrested and is believed to be at the family home in the provincial capital. According to witnesses and army officers, the governor gave the go-ahead for his leading rival’s supporters to be ambushed while travelling in convoy.
The attackers reportedly raped, tortured and beheaded some of the victims. Most of the bodies have been found in mass graves.
Why did this massacre take place? To prevent Esmael Mangundadatu, a political rival of the Ampatuan clan, from running for governor in next year’s local elections. His wife, who was one of the victims, was leading a convoy that planned to register him at an electoral office.
Why were the journalists murdered? According to local reporters, about 30 journalists were accompanying the convoy in order to cover this political initiative. It is believed there were killed in order to eliminate all the witnesses of the massacre of Esmael Mangundadatu’s supporters. Lawyers and local officials were also among the victims.
Code:
http://www.rsf.org/26-journalists-were-killed-in.html
now, this may seem as just a local incident, but it may be an attempt at creating instability within the region, possibly spreading to the country
also, the usa might have some special interest in the Philippines as:
In 2007, the World Bank has declared the Philippines a "Newly industrialized country"[94] while the prestigious Goldman Sachs Group has predicted that
the Philippines will be one of the Next Eleven economies which will shape world trade
Code:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines#Contemporary_Period
Philippines, Next Target of Bush's War
January 26, 2002
The long-awaited second act of President George Bush's worldwide 'war against terrorism' opened last week with the official announcement that 650 US troops would conduct 'military exercises' in the southern Philippines against the Muslim rebel movement, Abu Sayyaf.
In fact, it is learnt that the US troops have secretly been conducting operations with the Philippine military against Abu Sayyaf since last fall. Once again, the US is getting embroiled in a complex region about which very little is known.
This is the second time in just over 100 years that the US troops are in action against the Moros, or the Muslims of the southern Philippines.
Code:
http://www.twf.org/News/Y2002/0126-Philippines.html
it is quite possible that the philippines at that time lost the priority to iraq & later to afghanistan
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