(March 5, 2008) Members of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List - NCR Chapter and BANGSA - MMR held a picket rally in front of the National Office of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City.

The group held the picket rally to demand the Commission on Human Rights to heed the result of the probe and recommendations forwarded by the CHR Western Mindanao Office regarding the Maimbung, Sulu Massacre. In their joint statement, AMIN-NCR and BANGSA-MMR, reiterated the demands of the CHR Western Mindanao Office calling for the immediate filing of criminal and administrative case against those involved in the massacre of eight civilians which includes a pregnant woman and two children. The group also expressed their apprehensions for a cover-up of the case as the AFP Western Mindanao Command had already cleared the soldiers involved in the massacre.   

The group made a short program on the grounds of CHR while a panel coming from their ranks were invited inside to have a dialogue with the CHR. As there were no Commissioners available at that time, the AMIN-BANGSA panel was instead met by lawyers of the CHR in the person of Atty. Homer Rusiano and Atty. Atillano. The AMIN-BANGSA panel forwarded their demands to the CHR lawyers. After a discussion of the case, both panels agreed to a proposal made by the CHR lawyers that the CHR will conduct a high profile dialogue and discussion which will include the following:  WESMINCOM Chief Lt.Gen.Nelson Allaga, the Massacre Survivors, CHR Western Mindanao Director, Atty. Jose Manuel Mamauag, Congressman Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party list, Sulu Congressmen Yusop Jikiri and Munir Arbison , Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List, BANGSA and other Civil Society groups the CHR, AMIN and BANGSA would wish to invite. The picket rally dispersed peacefully after the panel meeting.

Click here for the AMIN-BANGSA Joint Statement

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