PHM-Exch> For Immediate Release: People's Health Movement Southeast Asia statement on the Morong 43

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: CHD ManCom <chdmancom at gmail.com>


*Statement of Solidarity re the Morong 43 *

* *

*Statement of the People's Health Movement-Southeast Asia on the Morong 43*



Manila, Philippines -- The *People’s Health Movement (PHM)*, a global
network bringing together grassroots activists, civil society organizations,
academics and health workers from around the world, reiterates our strong
condemnation of  the illegal arrest and continued detention of 43 community
health workers and doctors in the Philippines who continue to unjustly
languish in jail since February 6, 2010.



The health workers who were conducting health skills training to enhance
their health interventions in poorly resourced rural areas, but were
illegally arrested, detained, and tortured continue to be victims of human
rights violations.  Their arrest is not just an attack on their persons but
more so, is an attack on the right to health of the poor.  Their continued
unjust detention has deprived millions of poor people the health services
that these health workers have long been giving them.



To call the attention of President Noynoy Aquino to their innocence vis a
vis the charges levied against them and the urgent need for their release,
these so called Morong 43 Health workers have staged a hunger strike in
pursuit of justice.



The *PHM* supports the hunger strike of the Morong 43 and is in solidarity
with them in their continuing fight for justice!   We call on justice,
freedom and peace loving citizens of the Philippines to do the same.



The *PHM *calls on the Philippine President Benigno C. Aquino III to
immediately and unconditionally release the Morong 43 and dismiss all
charges filed against them NOW!   Just as he supported the call for Burmese
Aung San Suu Kyii’s immediate release as well as amnesty for the soldiers
who were involved in coup d’etat attempts in the Philippines, we urge him to
order the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43.



Indeed, justice delayed is justice denied!  **









*Dr. Edelina P. Dela Paz*

Coordinator, PHM Southeast Asia

Member, Global Steering Council

People’s Health Movement



 December 8, 2010
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