Indigenous group brings case of two indigenous persons, forty-one other detained health workers to UN body

Baguio City (March 10, 2010) -- KATRIBU Partylist, a sectoral party of indigenous peoples brought to the attention of Hon. Mandfred Nowak, United Nations Special Rapporteur (SR) on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the plight of two indigenous persons and forty-one other health workers detained in Camp Capinpin, Rizal.

The indigenous group also forwarded the submission to the following UN Special Rapporteurs:

Hon. JAMES ANAYA
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples

Hon. Mrs. MARGARET SEKAGGYA
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders

The said Special Rapporteurs are all based in the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland.

Summary of the submission to the UNSR

In a submission to Hon. Mandfred Nowak, dated March 9, 2010, KATRIBU raised the case of the 43 medical practitioners and health workers affiliated with the Council for Health and Development (CHD) and Community Medicine Foundation, Inc. (COMMED), including those of the following indigenous persons:

1. Ray-om Among, female, single, 22 y/o and a resident of Baet, Panaytayan, Manalaysay, Mindoro Oriental. She is a member of the Mangyan (indigenous peoples of Mindoro), specifically from the Hanunuo tribe.

2. Angela Manugan Doloricon, female, married, 50 y/o and a resident of Quezon City. She is an Igorot (indigenous peoples of the Cordillera), specifically a Kankanaey from Sagada, Mountain Province. She is a health researcher and trainer of Kilosbayan para sa Kalusugan (People‟s Action for Health).


The two indigenous persons and the rest of Health 43 remain in unlawful detention at Camp Capinpin, a military camp.Their rights were brazenly violated when they were unlawfully and unjustly arrested on trumped up cases, and detained not in a regular detention facility but in a military camp where they were subjected to torture, threats and harassment.

Each day that they remain in Camp Capinpin, in the hands of the military that perpetrate the violation of their rights and vilify them as communist terrorists, brings fear for their safety and security.

Their military captors bring them out of their cell almost every night for tactical interrogation and force them to admit that they are members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army. (Note from author: Ray-om Among confirmed this in her recent letter to Beverly Longid that was coursed through a family member of another detained health worker.)

Moreover, each day that they remain in detention denies communities, particularly indigenous peoples in far-flung areas, the basic health services that the victims and their legitimate health organizations provide.

Recommendations to the UNSR

In the submission, KATRIBU requested the SR to conduct an investigation on the incident and issue a statement on the matter of Angela Doloricon and Ray-om Among, indigenous women health workers and the rest of the Health 43.

It also requested the SR to urge the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release the detained indigenous community health workers Angela Doloricon and Ray-om Among, and the rest of the "Health 43";

2. Conduct an impartial, independent and transparent judicial inquiry on their illegal arrest, continuing torture and detention and the rest of the "Health 43‟;

3. Prosecute all State security forces involved in the incident and in the violations on the victims‟ human rights;

4. Stop the political persecution of health workers, activists and other advocates for genuine social reforms in the Philippines;

5. Provide just and fair compensation in full consultation and consent of the victims and their family;

6. Review the counter-insurgency policy of the Government in accordance with the recommendations of UNSR Dr. Philip Alston.

7. Implement the Constitutional provision on the Bill of Rights, R.A. 9745 (Philippine Anti-Torture Law) and international standards to which the GRP is a signatory, including the International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Article 1 of the said Declaration provides: “Indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law”;

8. Call on the resumption of peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as a means of addressing the root causes of the armed conflict in the country including the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Law (CARHRIHL) signed by both Parties; and

9. Invite your respectable offices and other relevant UN Special Rapporteurs or offices to visit and assess the human rights situation in the Philippines.

About the author of the UN submission

This submission is initiated by the KATRIBU Partylist, a sectoral party of indigenous peoples.

The information contained in the submission was taken from the personal accounts of the victims as narrated to their families, relatives and colleagues, and other information documented by the KARAPATAN (National Alliance for the Advancement of People‟s Rights) and the Council for Health and Development (CHD).

KATRIBU Partylist has taken efforts to verify and substantiate the data. Last February 18, 2010, its President, Beverly L. Longid visited her fellow indigenous peoples Ray-om Among and Angela Manugan Doloricon.

At present, KATRIBU Partylist, through Beverly Longid, stands as the family of Ms. Ray-om Among. The family of Ray-om is facing difficulty to visit her due to financial constraints and security concerns relative to the nature of the case.

During the visit, Among particularly narrated that the military kept on forcing her to admit that she is a member of the CPP-NPA, an allegation which she denied.The visit was the first for Among since her arrest in February 6. KATRIBU brought Among food and toiletries. At the end of the visit, Among asked for a blanket and a can of milk.

KATRIBU is also part of the broad network “FREE the 43” composing of health professionals and workers, families of the Health 43, and other concerned organizations and individuals. # www.katribu.org