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A spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced yesterday that custody of forty-three detained health workers would be transferred to the National Police. The so-called Morong 43 were arrested last month on February 6th and charged more than a week later with illegally possessing firearms and explosives. The Armed Forces claim that the doctors, nurses and other health workers are suspected communist rebels with the New People’s Army. They even contend that the arrests staved off a planned attack on the armed group’s anniversary and further operations aimed at disrupting elections in May. Human rights groups, on the other hand, have been swift to condemn the arrest and detention of the Morong 43 saying that the health workers were receiving first responders training when the military conducted an illegal search. They also quote doctors and lawyers who say that the imprisoned people have been subjected to torture and other violations of their rights. In response to the continued detention of the health workers, a national North American Art Beyond Borders Live Petition effort will commence in Los Angeles tomorrow after the convening of a new “Never Again to Martial Law in the Philippines” coalition. Community supporters and artists will come together to call for the release of the Morong 43 and for an end to human rights abuses under the Arroyo government.

GUEST: Melissa Roxas, is a human rights activist based here in Los Angeles and a member of Habi-Arts – she herself was abducted and tortured in the Philippines last year – she agreed to give us her first radio interview in light of what is happening now. With Melissa is Kuusela Hilo, the Vice Chair of Bayan USA

This weekend’s event is on Saturday, March 6, 2010. The Southern California Never Again to Martial Law Convention is at 3:00 PM, the Live Art Petition is at 5:30 PM. The events will take place at Fernando’s Hideaway, 519 S. Spring St (between 5th St and 6th St), Los Angeles, CA 90013

For more information, visit www.habi-arts.org.