Stop the torture of 43 health workers! Free all 43 now!

Reform group condemns non-bailable charges filed by DOJ Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change demands the unconditional and immediate release of the 43 health workers who are illegally detained and tortured in Camp Capinpin, Rizal. The group also denounces the non-bailable charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the health workers, saying that it has yet to establish if these were indeed found in their possession or were planted by the military. Pagbabago! believes that these charges against the health workers are outrageous. The 43 are all community doctors, midwives and health workers who are members of the Council for Health and Development (CHD). Many of them are colleagues of Pagbabago! coordinating committee member, Dr Eleanor Jara, and have actively participated in Pagbabago! forums in the past year. In fact, Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor is one of the members of Pagbabago! Manila chapter and was one of the doctors who led the Manila contingent of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) protest in July 2009. According to the group, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should be held liable for the illegal arrest and torture of doctors, nurses and other health workers who were holding a health seminar in Morong Rizal last February 6. The AFP by accusing the health workers of being rebels is also maliciously linking the New People’s Army (NPA) to the progressive partylist Bayan Muna, whose campaign paraphernalia were supposed to be found along with the explosives. It took five days after the arrest before the military granted the right of the 43 health workers to see their counsel. The families who visited the camp daily were barred from seeing their detained relatives and were even questioned if they were indeed family members. Worse, the 43 are being subjected to torture, harassment and isolation in detention cells in Camp Capinpin everyday since their arrest. Pagbabago! is concerned for the safety of the 43 health workers in the hands of the military. Human rights violations under the Arroyo administration has been one of the worst records in the country’s history with continuing political killings, abductions and harassments. The case of the 43 health workers only confirms not only the military's involvement in these violations but also that these attacks are targeted on people’s organizations and individuals who organize and put up community-based programs serving the needs of the poor and underprivileged. Pagbabago! demands the military to drop the charges, stop the torture and immediately release the 43 health workers. The group also vows vigilance in the upcoming elections against rampant violation of human rights and violence perpetuated by the AFP, PNP and government-sponsored paramilitary forces. #