BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Office (UNESCO) has assured journalist and civil society groups that the cases related to Ampatuan massacre will be maintained as “ongoing/unresolved” in the UNESCO Observatory of killed journalists as well as in the upcoming “Director-General’s Report on Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity.”
UNESCO Deputy Director General Xing Qu, who is also assistant director general for communication and information, said this will be the classification of the cases “until such a moment when a final verdict is reached by the Philippine judicial system.”
At least 164 individuals, 18 organizations – among these a university-based human rights group and prominent press NGOs – had earlier sent an appeal to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay UNESCO’s classification of the Ampatuan Massacre as “resolved.” (READ: IN FULL | Journalists, civil society appeal to UNESCO on classification of Amptuan case)
FULL. DISCLOSURE: The Digital News Exchange, through its executive editor Julius Mariveles, is among the 18 organizations that signed the letter.
DNX Managing Editor Hannah A. Papasin is also a signatory.
The full letter of Xing can be seen below.
