PHM-Exch> PHM Global letter t the Philippine authorities

[Claudio Schuftan]

PHM Global Secretariat,  PO Box 13698 St. Peter's Square, Mowbray 7705, Cape
Town, South Africa. Tel: 027 21 4473037 Fax: 027 866 707216 E-mail:
globalsecretariat at phmovement.org Web: www.phmovement.org

*H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo*, President of the Republic, Malacañang
Palace,
*

Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP*, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process,
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
*

Noberto Gonzales*, Secretary, Department of National Defense
*

Atty. Agnes Devanadera*, Secretary, Department of Justice
*

Atty. Leila De Lima*, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

Dear President Arroyo, Gen Razon, Noberto Gonzales, Atty, Agnes Devanadera,
Atty. Leila De Lima
*

Re: Illegal arrest, detention and torture of health workers
*

The People’s Health Movement, a global network bringing together grassroots
activists, civil society organisations, academics and health workers from
around the world, strongly condemns the illegal arrest, detention, and
torture of 43 community health workers and doctors in the Philippines.

The health workers who were conducting advanced health skills training for
their use in poorly resourced rural areas, were blindfolded, frisked, and
forcibly removed and taken to Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal. The arrest of
these health workers is an attack on the right to health of the poor.

The People’s Health Movement strongly condemns the arrest, detention and
torture of the health workers, and demands:

 the immediate release of the community health workers, doctors, nurse and
midwife from Camp Capinpin

 The government ensure that the victims are safely returned to their place
of arrest and their belongings returned immediately;

 Access to medical care, counselling and visits from relatives while in
detention;

 The formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team
composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local
government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into raid and
illegal arrest of the health workers.

 The military to stop the labelling and targeting of human rights defenders
as "members of front organizations of the communists" and "enemies of the
state."

Mailing Address: PO Box 13698 St. Peter's Square, Mowbray 7705, Cape Town,
South Africa. Tel: 027 21 4473037 Fax: 027 866 707216 E-mail:
globalsecretariat at phmovement.org Web: www.phmovement.org

We would like to remind the Philippine Government that it is a signatory to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and party to all the major Human
Rights instruments, and thus bound to observe all of these instruments’
provisions.

Yours sincerely

Bridget Lloyd

Global Co-ordinator
On behalf of the People’s Health Movement Co-ordinating Commission
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