Protest Declaration CHD Arrest of 43 Health Workers

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are appalled by the message we have received about the incident that happened on 06 February 2010 at the Residential compound of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal.

Dr. Velmonte is a renowned and respected infectious disease specialist and a consultant at the Philippine General Hospital. Her farm is a regular venue of health trainings.

At 6:15 am around 300 heavily armed elements of the military and police forced their way into the farm of Dr. Melecia Velmonte.

Alleged Perpetrator(s) were: Joint elements of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (202nd IBPA), and Rizal Philippine National Police (PNP), headed by Colonel Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanay, Rizal, and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong of the Rizal PNP.

They illegally arrested and detained 43 persons.

Read more »

Zusammenstellung von Widerstands- und Protestaktionen auf den Philippinen seit unserer Rückkehr am 18. April 2009, zusammengestellt aus Pressemitteilungen der KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gewerkschaftsbewegung des 1. Mai)

Zusammenstellung von Widerstands- und Protestaktionen auf den Philippinen

Datum    Ereignis       
22.04.2009    Arbeiterprotest vor der US-Botschaft  gegen die fortlaufende amerikanische Intervention in ökonomischen und politischen Angelegenheiten des Landes       
29.04.2009    Protest gegen die Festnahme eines japanischen Delegierten für die ISA und seinen erzwungenen Rückflug nach Japan       
01.05.2009    Hunderttausende demonstrieren landeswei t am 1. Mai u.a. gegen Massenentlassungen       
10.06.2009    In Makati findet eine Demo gegen die geplante Verfassungsänderung (Cha-Cha) statt

Read more »

Mit der willkürlichen Verhaftung von 43 medizinischen Pflegekräften eröffnet die philippinische Regierung

ihren stramm antikommunistischen Wahlkampf

 

Von Rainer Werning

 

Knapp drei Stunden dauerte der kombinierte Großeinsatz philippinischer Soldaten und Polizisten in den Morgenstunden des 6. Februar in der Ortschaft Morong in der an Manila angrenzenden Provinz Rizal, bis deren Kommandeure die Parole „mission accomplished“ ausgaben. Etwa 300 staatliche Sicherheitskräfte stürmten an jenem Samstagmorgen gewaltsam das Farmhaus von Dr. Melecia Velmonte, einer am regierungseigenen Philippine General Hospital in Manila tätigen und auf Infektionskrankheiten spezialisierten Ärztin, wo gerade ein 43-köpfiges Team von Pflegekräften einen medizinischen Fortbildungskurs absolvierte. Das Farmhaus diente in der Vergangenheit wiederholt als Trainingszentrum für landesweit in basisorientierten Gesundheitsprogrammen engagierte Mitarbeiter/innen und als Begegnungsstätte für medizinisches Fachpersonal aus dem universitären Bereich. Initiiert wurden die Kurse und Austauschprogramme maßgeblich von zwei sozialpolitisch engagierten NGOs, der eingetragenen Stiftung für gemeindeorientierte medizinische Entwicklung (COMMED) und dem landesweit verankerten Rat für Gesundheit und Entwicklung (CHD). Ohne einen gültigen Haftbefehl vorzuweisen, wurden alle Anwesenden durchsucht und gefesselt. Anschließend verband man ihnen die Augen, legte ihnen Handschellen an und transportierte sie wie Vieh auf Lastwagen und in bereitgestellten Minibussen ins benachbarte Militärcamp Capinpin.

Read more »

To the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Philippines, mass media, trade unions and to the international democratic public, to the human rights organizations-  please forward this email whereever and whenever you can to strengthen the international protest and solidarity movement for human rights in the Philippines, which people needs for their life in standing up to fight for a liberated world!
On the Monday Demonstration inStuttgart, Germany, 15th of February 2010 we counted contineously – just as it was decided by the Monday-Demonstration Movement Stuttgart in our partnership agreement between the Monday-Demonstration-Movement  in Stuttgart and the family Balao and Cordillera People Alliance (CPA) of October 2008- the days of the disappearance of James Balao.
On this Monday it was the 510th day of the disappearance of James Balao.

Dear Sisters and Friends, 
Greetings of peace from GABRIELA Philippines!
Please find below the statement of Gabriela Women's party in condemnation of the illegal arrest of 43 health workers, most of them women, in Morong, Rizal (neigboring province of Manila) by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The victims, who were conducting a training seminar on community health work at the time of arrest are being falsely accused as members of the New People's Army. During the Ondoy devastation, these doctors, nurses and health workers were the ones who immediately and tirelessly provided medical services to the victims. GABRIELA have worked with in many health activities in the past. As of today, February 8, they are detained in Camp Capinpin in the same province. Families and lawyers were not allowed to visit the victims. Once again this is a clear violation of human rights by the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime in her attempt to 
 
Attached also is a fact sheet and call for urgent action from Karapatan, Alliance for Human Rights. We hope that you can spare time to read and join us in our call to free the spond to the allert. Thank you very much. 
 
In solidarity,
Lana Linaban
Secretary General
 
 
 
08 February 2010
 
Reference: Rep. Luz Ilagan, House of Representatives
Contact No. : 09209213221
 
Arrest of 43 health workers, foul and election-related – Gabriela Women’s Party
 
Gabriela Women’s Party decries the arrest of 43 health workers and professionals, 26 of whom are women, attending training seminar held by Council for Health Development (CHD) as foul. It is part of a design to revive anew the state’s attempt to link progressive partylists with the armed revolutionary movement. 
 
“It is foul, truly a characteristic of the Arroyo regime. 
 
“We can see through clearly the malicious intent behind this arrest. CHD and the participants of the said training are known supporters of the progressive partylists’ causes and have a long, fruitful history of delivering health services to many neglected areas. By tainting their reputation, this regime hopes to dissuade the people from voting for progressive candidates and party lists,” Rep. Luz Ilagan said. 
 
Read more »