<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">CHD ManCom</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:chdmancom@gmail.com">chdmancom@gmail.com</a>></span><br><br><br><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Statement of Solidarity re the Morong 43 </span></b></p>


<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"> </span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Statement of the People's Health Movement-Southeast Asia on the Morong 43</span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Manila, Philippines -- The <b>People’s Health Movement (PHM)</b>, a
global network bringing together grassroots activists, civil society organizations,
academics and health workers from around the world, reiterates our strong
condemnation of <span> </span>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.<span>  </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">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.<span>  </span>Their arrest is not just an attack on their
persons but more so, <span lang="EN-ZA">is an
attack on the right to health of the poor.<span> 
</span>Their continued unjust detention has deprived millions of poor people
the health services that these health workers have long been giving them.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA">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.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA">The <b>PHM</b> supports the hunger strike of the Morong 43 and is in
solidarity with them in their continuing fight for justice!<span>  </span><span> </span>We
call on justice, freedom and peace loving citizens of the Philippines to do the
same. </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA">The <b>PHM </b>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!<span>   </span>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.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-ZA">Indeed, justice delayed is justice
denied!<span>  </span></span><i></i></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Dr. Edelina P. Dela
Paz</b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Coordinator, PHM Southeast Asia</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Member, Global Steering Council</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">People’s Health Movement</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>

<p class="MsoNormal"> December 8, 2010</p>
</div><br>