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| Southeast Asia |
| Martial law declared in parts of S. Philippines |
| 2009-12-05 |
| (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared martial law in parts of a volatile southern province as security forces moved to arrest members of a local political clan linked to last week's gruesome massacre of 57civilians. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Saturday announced the proclamation of martial law in Maguindanao province, imposed by Arroyo on Dec. 4. Civil rights in the province will be suspended and the President is entitled to order troops to crush rebellion attempts to maintain public order and safety. The drastic measure taken by the government came as security forces arrested and held two prominent members of the Ampatuan clan over the massacre on Nov. 23. Police took away Andal Ampatuan Sr., a three-term governor of Maguindanao, and his son Zaldy Ampatuan, incumbent governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, from the family mansions in the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak before dawn Saturday. Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of Datu Unsay town of Maguindanao, was tagged as the prime suspect in the massacre. He has been arrested and charged with 25 counts of murder before court. Thousands of troops moved in Maguindanao since last week and the authorities have ordered the relief of over a thousand local law enforcement personnel and started to disarm Ampatuan family's private armies. |
| Posted by:Fred |