| Aljazeera News Saturday, December 12, 2009 19:31 Mecca time, 16:31 GMT | |||
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The president of the Philippines has lifted martial law in the country's southern province where 57 people were massacred last month in the country's worst political violence, her spokesman has said. Cerge Remonde said Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the proclamation lifting martial law and ending the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao province on Saturday. The move comes eight days after Arroyo took the controversial step in order to rein in a powerful clan blamed for the killings. The edict allowed security forces to make arrests without court warrants and to move against the Ampatuan clan blamed for the November 23 killings of members of a rival clan and 30 journalists. Ampatuans' denial The Ampatuans, allies of Arroyo and in control of Maguindanao for years, have denied involvement in the massacre but the ruling party expelled them days after the killings. Elsewhere in the south, authorities sought the help of a tribal chieftain to persuade government-armed former militiamen to release 47 hostages, even as police prepared a rescue operation. The massacre and the abduction have underscored the lawlessness in a volatile region plagued by bandits, Muslim and communist fighters and private armies. Eduardo Ermita, a senior cabinet member who also serves as executive secretary, said a state of emergency declared a day after the massacre in Maguindanao would remain in force in the region. It allows security forces to set up road checkpoints and seize firearms from civilians. The decision to lift martial law was made upon the recommendation of cabinet security officials during a meeting of the National Security Council early on Saturday, Ermita said. He said 24 people, including clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr, have been charged with rebellion and 638 others have been referred to the justice department for investigation. Three others, including Ampatuan's son, Andal Jr, have been charged with multiple counts of murder and 247 others face similar charges. The military has seized hundreds of assorted firearms, including mortars and machine guns, and hundreds of thousands of ammunition rounds hidden or buried in and near properties owned by the Ampatuans. Human rights groups and lawyers had questioned the constitutionality of Arroyo's imposition of martial law - mindful of rights abuses during the Marcos administration. They said that actual rebellion and invasion - the grounds for martial law - did not exist. Opposition legislators had accused Arroyo of preparing the grounds for imposing it nationwide. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/12/2009121215347373136.html |
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Philippines martial law lifted
