At least 46 people were killed on Monday afternoon in Maguindanao of southern
The incident happened while a convoy of at least 40 journalists and supporters of Buluan town Vice-Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu were on their way to register him as the candidate for the post of Maguindanao Governor against current governor Andal Ampatuan's son in the May 2010 elections.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday placed three provinces in southern
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'We just followed orders'
A man who says he was a witness to Monday's massacre in the southern
CLICK ABOVE to watch "Witness to A Massacre" video interview from Al Jazeera
The witness, who identified himself only as "Boy", said he was among more than 100 armed men who held up a convoy of political campaigners and journalists before taking them to a remote mountainous area where they were then killed.
Speaking to Al Jazeera's correspondent Marga Ortigas, "Boy" said the orders had come directly from Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and a member of a politically powerful local with close ties to the
"Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: anyone from the Mangudadatu clan - women or children - should be killed... We don't ask why, we just followed orders."
At least 57 people died in the massacre, believed to be the worst ever politically-related killings in the
"Boy", who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed.
Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.
He said that Ampatuan Jr had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened.
Warning
"That too was ordered by Datu Andal… because they didn't want any evidence left behind," he said.
"Boy" said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby.
"We didn't get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there," he said.
"Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers."
Speaking with his face covered to his identity, "Boy" said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims.
He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene.
"I was just standing there," he said "I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience."
you know what sux? we dont know if this guy is really a witness. everything hes saying was reported on the news.. does he have any evidence or some new info? hmmm... i know this is good. but it only shows that anybody could just come forward and say they are the witness..
Oh my God!
Hey China, just come and take-over.
We're not worth it, you say?
I understand.
Anonymous 2:21,
to be witness means you are putting your life in jopardy. it means you are a marked man. why would anyone lie just to be marked man?
Truth is stranger than fiction…and probably will never be known to all…
How many millions, billions have been funneled into this region, intelligence funds, anti terror funds, election related funds, aid? There are probably more military presence here than anywhere else in the country, not counting the palace. Contrary to the “complicated” scenario that is always painted about this area, it may not be as perplexing in real life. There is only right and wrong, nothing in between, black and white, truth or lie, beyond that, there are “complications” “gray areas.”
As usual, we just have to follow the “money trail,” who stands to gain from protracted conflict here? Soldiers can only follow orders, those unfortunate enough to question seemingly “illegal” orders will be dealt with the fullest extent that the chain of command will allow. A man can be kidnapped, murdered, beaten, in front of a military camp but if no orders are given to intervene, the perpetrators will be left alone to do whatever they want. Standing orders are “not to intervene.”
With most of our brightest people, people with sky high IQs, steeped in military strategy and tactics, trained to anticipate possible scenarios, given the intelligence network, armor, manpower, firepower, the works, why? Even the Americans are there?
This seemingly perpetual peace and order problem in Mindanao looks more like a “way of life” rather than an age old problem of cultural roots, then again its easy to make it “complex” as complications feed the mystique, the unknown…people like to make things complicated if they want to hide the truth. Find the people who profit from this, the hidden traditions, the unwritten, unaccounted priveleges that wait for certain positions…then we can come closer to solving this so called complexity that has claimed the lives of countless friends and brothers who only followed orders but were inexplicable pawns in the greater scheme of things.
how terribly sad
:(