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Von: "kmu id" <>
Betreff: Free the 43
Health Workers
Now!
Datum: Freitag, 19. Februar 2010 14:16
 
Dear friends,
 
Warm greetings!
 
We are writing to appeal to you to please exert pressure on the
government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to immediately release the 43
illegally arrested and detained medical practitioners and health
workers.
 
Here is a background of the case:
 
On Feb 6, 43 medical practitioners and health workers were illegally
arrested and detained by the Philippine military on false, trumped up
charges of being members and supporters of the armed group New Peoples
Army (NPA). Among the 43 are two doctors, two nurses, a midwife and
the rest are community health workers. They were participating in a
First Responders Training sponsored by two registered NGOs namely, the
Community Medicine Foundation, Inc. (COMMED) and Council for Health
and Development (CHD) in Morong, Rizal. The place is owned by Dr.
Melecia Velmonte, a renowned and respected infectious disease
specialist and a consultant at the Philippine General Hospital.
 
The military did not presented a valid search and arrest warrant when
they raided the training facility. To top it all, around 300 soldiers
forced entry to the place, while outside the compound, there were four
(4) 6 x 6 military trucks, two (2) Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), a
car, and an ambulance waiting. The 43 were ordered lined up, frisked,
handcuffed, photographed, interrogated and blindfolded. They were
also divested of their belongings.
 
Since Day 1, the military has concocted stories to justify the illegal
arrest and detention. There was the allegation that the 62-year old
Dr. Alexis Montes is an NPA leader assigned to assassinate Jovito
Palparan. Palparan of course is accused to be behind the
extrajudicial killings of progressive workers, peasants, journalists
and even church leaders in the country under the counter-insurgency
program Oplan Bantay Laya I & II. A retired military general,
Palparan is now a Congressman and is also with an anti-communist group
called ANAD.
 
The 43 health workers, now popularly known as "Morong 43" in reference
to the place of arrest, have been subjected to mental and
psychological torture and sexual harassment. At the Court of Appeals
hearing on the petition for a writ of habeas corpus last Feb 15, Dr.
Montes testified of their ordeal including the military's touching of
their private parts when they have to use the toilet. The families,
and even the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights were
initially denied visits to the camp. The military has also initially
defied a Supreme Court order to present the 43 in court citing
security reasons.
 
It has been two weeks now since that illegal arrest and detention.
The detainees continue to suffer mental and physical anguish daily
from the military.
 
We are therefore asking you to spread the word, add your voice and
help build a strong international pressure on the government of Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo to immediately release the 43 health workers.
 
Please send protest letters to:
 
H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph
 
Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
osec@opapp.gov.ph
 
Norberto Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com
 
Atty. Agnes Devanadera
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: soj@doj.gov.ph
 
Atty. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chr.delima@yahoo.com
 
Please also furnish us of your letters. We likewise ask you to set
aside a little of your time and click on the online petition below
being circulated by CHD and COMMED.
 
Attached are some documents and news articles about the Morong 43.
 
It is important to have a strong international pressure to the
Philippine government especially as it is hell-bent on crushing its
critics. With the national elections nearing, it is not a far-fetched
idea that the Morong 43 can be a precedent and is only a portent of
things to come. We need your support in our quest for genuine
democracy and social justice in the Philippines.
 
Thanking you in advance.
 
In solidarity,
Tess Dioquino
Secretary
International Department
 
 
 
 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: chd mancom < >
Date: Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Subject: Petition Online: Free the 43 Health Workers Now!
 
 
Dear Friends,
 
We need your support. Please help circulate the online petition for our
colleagues that are still illegally detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay,
Rizal. Please click on the link below to express your support:
 
http://www.petitiononline.com/FreeD43/petition.html
 
Thank you!
 
In solidarity,
 
Council for Health and Development
Community Medicine Development Foundation
 
http://freethehealthworkers.blogspot.com/
http://chdphilippines.org/

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