MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE

Early day motion 836, tabled 9 February 2010 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 39 members.

That this House recalls the Government's strong backing for UN Security Council Resolution 1738 of 23 December 2006 expressing deep concern over the safety of journalists and other civilians in conflict and demanding an end to impunity for their killers; notes with dismay that at least 347 journalists and support staff have been killed since then for trying to bring news to the world; condemns the massacre of at least 57 men and women at Maguindanao in the Philippines on 23 November 2009, including 31 journalists, making this the biggest single death toll for the media in recorded history; notes with strong approval the investigation by independent international forensic experts, including Britain's Chris Cobb-Smith; seeks the ending of impunity for those who murder journalists in the Philippines and elsewhere; and urges the Government to utilise its role in the International Contact Group, and other bodies, to stress to the government of the Philippines that the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre should be brought to proper justice.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 7, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1.