Statement of Solidarity from the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

18 February 2010

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…”
Mark 2:17

The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) expresses solidarity to the forty three (43) health workers who were illegally arrested on February 6th while attending a seminar conducted by a non-government organization, the Council for Health and Development, in Morong town, Rizal province in the Philippines. The health workers were brought to Camp Capinpin, Rizal where they were detained and tortured. Since their arrest, they have been denied visits of relatives and friends. It was only through the intervention of Commissioner Leila de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights that some of the relatives were able to see their loved ones on Tuesday, February 9th. A writ of habeas corpus has been filed by the family members of the detained health workers in the Supreme Court.

The detained health workers include Dr. Alexis Montes, a member and former national health program coordinator of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The arrest, detention, torture and false accusations hurled on him are intended to malign the Christian commitment and service Dr. Alexis Montes has been giving to the poor, deprived and oppressed communities in the Philippine society.

In this situation of the 43 detained and tortured Filipino health workers, we assert the statement of Jesus Christ, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…” which is an ethical assertion of attending to the health needs of the poor and sick people that these 43 health workers have unselfishly responded to. Therefore, we join the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and our partner church the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in calling for the respect of the human rights of Dr. Alexis Montes and the 42 other detained health workers, including their rights to legal counsel, access to visitors, and due process, as guaranteed by the Philippines Constitution and international human rights instruments to which the Philippines is a signatory. We urge the authorities to ensure the immediate release of Dr Montes and his co-workers.


REV. BAE TAE-JIN
General Secretary
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)