Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance is a consortium of non-government health organizations, health professional organizations, church institutions, human rights groups and advocates founded on February 2010 to call for the immediate release of the 43 health workers. Since then, the alliance has launched massive campaigns for immediate legal action and public information.
On February 6, forty-three health workers were illegally arrested by combined forces of the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police while conducting a First Responders Health Skills Training in Morong, Rizal. They were incarcerated and tortured in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal, and later on transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, after relatives and supporters demanded that the health workers be transferred to a civilian detention facility from the courts.
They were falsely accused of undergoing a “bomb-making” training, held incommunicado for several days, tortured and deprived of their constitutional rights.
The health workers, collectively known as the “Morong 43”, are dedicated health volunteers who were always at the forefront of community based health care. They provided much-needed healthy services in barangays where government services were noticeably lacking. They were in the front line of community services including disaster response to last year’s typhoon Ondoy. They were armed not with rifles and ammunitions but with stethoscopes, first-aid kits, and a burning desire to serve the poor.
But instead of being recognized, these health workers were persecuted and continue to suffer under detention.
Despite the situation they are in, the health workers remain steadfast and are in high spirits knowing that they are not alone in their struggle for justice and freedom.
President Benigno Aquino’s explicit admission last October 14 that evidence against the 43 were taken through irregular means and falls under the principle of the “fruit of the poisonous tree”. Thus, the President should end the injustice immediately by ordering a withdrawal of the cases wrongfully filed against the 43. The alliance and all peace advocates must remain vigilant and exert all efforts until freedom and justice is claimed.In this light, we are cordially inviting you to join us in a march on Dec.2,Thursday, 9:30 am (originally Nov. 19). The march is a joint activity, mainly by the health and law sectors, so this will be joined in by doctors, nurses, health workers, lawyers, health science and law students. However, we encourage all other sectors to come. It will commence at UST Espana and will culminate with a short program at the Mendiola Peace Arch to symbolize the people’s unity against brazen attacks on health workers and human rights. Likewise, since it is human rights day on December 10, we can take this opportunity to call for: Justice for nurse “Florence” and respect for human rights for nurses and all Filipinos. We hope that you will be one with us in this peaceful activity. Thank you and we look forward to your reply.
In solidarity,
Julie P. Caguiat, MDSpokesperson, Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance
Eleanor A. Jara, M.D.Convener, Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance
No comments:
Post a Comment