“They Own the People” R I G H TWATCH S H U M a N ” “Insider Testimony Provided by Agal Agal Arroyo

R I G H TWATCH S H U M A N in Southern the Philippines The Philippines and Militias, Killings State-Backed The Ampatuans, They “They Own ” the People

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | November 2010 The Philippines |“They Own the People” R I G H TWATCH S H U M A N ” “insider testimony provided by agal agal Arroyo. Even after a flurry of been responsible. Floor th were responsible for ” a “private army and The were string other responsible of in killings abuses the province. ades. ades. It charts the ’ Ampatuans rise and expansion, aided by President Arroyo, who relied on the

and arrests following the Maguindanao massacre, over half of the suspects are still at large and the family the and large at still are suspects the of half over massacre, Maguindanao the following arrests and uans, uans, and its ity at ly for crucial votes ly and for votes support crucial in the protracted armed with conflict Moro armed in groups Mindanao. erful and abusive forces in the Philippines, it is hardly unique: more than 100 private armies are estimated to estimated are armies private 100 than more unique: hardly is it Philippines, the in forces abusive and erful

their long and continuing history of serious human rights violations. It also calls on the National Bureau of w

ami over over two dec more more than 50 alleged incidences of killings, torture, sexual assault, abductions, and enforced disappearances armies armies and the for atrocities they which have The report urges President Benigno Aquino III to ban all paramilitary and militia forces in the Philippines because in the Philippines forces and militia paramilitary all ban III to Aquino Benigno President The report urges military, military, and eventually, the administration of then-President Gloria Macap They Own the People focuses on the Ampatuans and their militia. The report details their many abuses, including abuses, many their details report The militia. their and Ampatuans the on focuses People the Own They Ampatuan example Ampatuan is any example indication, a history of is abuses no disqualifier. remains powerful. remains The Ampatuans, State-Backed Militias, and Militias, in Killings Southern the Philippines State-Backed The Ampatuans, Ampatuans Ampatuans rose to power and enforced their rule with the help—both tacit and —of overt local officials, police, government government officials, security forces, and militias. As long as such official support continues, so will private former former members of the ’ Ampatuans 2000- to 5000-strong private army. Although perhaps one of the most Based Based on in-depth investigations in Mindanao, the report draws heavily on an an atrocity waiting to happen. For more than 20 years, the ruling family charged with the massacre, the Amp 350 Fifth Avenue, 34 © Reuters operate operate throughout the country. The level of direct government support for these militias varies, but if the f in the southern on 6, Philippines 2009. December farm farm of the Ampatuan family in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, activ of

Soldiers stand guard near assorted firearms unearthed on unearthed the assorted firearms stand guard near Soldiers www.hrw.org HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH New York, NY 10118-3299 The November 2009 massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao was Mindanao of island Philippines southern the on Maguindanao in people 58 of massacre 2009 November The po

Investigation Investigation to prioritize investigating alleged extrajudicial killings and other serious crimes that may involve They “They Own ” the People

“They Own the People” The Ampatuans, State-Backed Militias, and Killings in the Southern Philippines

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