Charles Hector's case mentioned in UK House of Commons Hansard

Paul  Blomfield MP

An extract from the Hansard of the House of Commons containing references to 

Charles  Hector's case, at columns 988W-989W. 

  The relevant section is also set out below.

Malaysia: Human Rights

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has
made representations to the government of Malaysia
concerning Mr Charles Hector Fernandez; what his
most recent assessment is of the situation of human
rights campaigners in Malaysia; and if he will make a
statement. [54621]

Mr Jeremy Browne: The EU Delegation in Kuala
Lumpur has met with Charles Hector Fernandez and
has been following his trial on behalf of member states.
The Malaysian Government is not a party to the case,
which is a civil matter between Mr Fernandez and a
Japanese company. The UK has therefore made no
representations to the Malaysian Government, but our
high commission in Kuala Lumpur continues to monitor
the trial.

Malaysia has a national framework for the protection
of human rights enshrined in its constitution. However,
we remain concerned that human rights defenders who
challenge the Government can suffer harassment and
arrest. EU missions in Kuala Lumpur met local human
rights defenders in March 2010 and maintain a dialogue
with them. Our high commission also maintains contacts
with human rights defenders and regularly speaks to
them and to the national human rights commission
(SUHAKAM) on a range of human rights issues.