Morong 43 Start Hunger Strike

 Morong 43 Start Hunger Strike

“Every day in jail is an injustice to us,” the health workers said. “Our action today and in the succeeding days is a call to President Aquino to simply order the withdrawal of the case against us forthwith so that we may be immediately and unconditionally released.”

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – After almost ten months in detention, the 43 health workers started their hunger strike early morning of Dec. 3.

“Today we begin our hunger strike. This is the only course of action left to us to end our continued illegal detention, there being no clear action by the government for our unconditional release,” the Morong 43 said in a statement released to the media.

Relatives and supporters of the Morong 43 gather at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) national cathedral and start their sympathy fasting. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)

 The health workers, now known as the Morong 43, were arrested on Feb. 6 in Morong, Rizal by around 300 combined elements of the police and military. They were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The health workers said they were subjected to physical and psychological torture during their detention at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. Thirty-eight have been transferred to civilian detention facilities at Camp Bagong Diwa since May 1 and five have remained under military custody.

“Every day in jail is an injustice to us,” the health workers said.

Amid calls from the international community and protest actions here and abroad, President Benigno S. Aquino III has decided to leave to case of the Morong 43 to the local court. “The president himself has admitted that our arrest was based on a defective warrant and that “evidence wrongly gotten cannot be used.” Yet despite these findings, there are no clear indications that the charges against us will be withdrawn anytime soon,” they said..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2010/12/03/morong-43-start-hunger-strike/