IN DEFENCE OF CHARLES HECTOR: The China Post : Malaysia defamation case spotlights migrant rights

Support Human rights defenders ; Support The Charles Hector Legal Defence Fund

For highlighting information about human rights violations suffered by 31 Burmese Migrant Workers who were working at Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd, in Charles Hector Blog, HR Defender, Charles Hector, has been sued for RM10 million by the said company.

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Sign petition or send latest AHRC Urgent Appeal or sign change.org petition https://www.change.org/petitions/ford-chrysler-and-sony-dont-buy-from-factories-that-fight-against-human-rights

ALIRAN has up a fund so that concerned groups and persons can contribute to the legal cost and expenses incurred by Charles Hector, Human Rights Defender, in the legal suit initiated by Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd. A lot of financial support is needed and your immediate assistance is needed.

Payments can be made by bank transfer to:

Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara
Bank account number:

107 246 109 510

Malayan Banking Berhad, Green Lane branch, Penang, Malaysia.

(If you are outside Malaysia, please include the “SWIFT” code for our bank: MBBEMYKL)

Please also email us at aliran@streamyx.com to indicate that it is a donation to Hector’s Legal Defence Fund.

Donations may also be made by cheque or bank draft made payable to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara. Mail your cheque/bank draft to us at 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia, indicating clearly that it is a donation to the Hector Legal Defence Fund. [http://aliran.com/4590.html]

Sunday, 3 July 2011

The China Post : Malaysia defamation case spotlights migrant rights

Updated Friday, June 24, 2011 11:09 am TWN, AP

Malaysia defamation case spotlights migrant rights

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- An international rights group has criticized the Malaysian subsidiary of a Japanese manufacturing firm for suing a lawyer who wrote about the alleged mistreatment of migrant workers from Myanmar.

Machine components maker Asahi Kosei's Malaysian arm has sued for defamation and demanded 10 million ringgit (US$3.3 million) in damages from rights lawyer Charles Hector.
Hearings are scheduled to begin June 28.

Hector alleged on his blog in February that Myanmarese workers for the company had been mistreated and threatened with deportation.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Thursday that the large sum sought by the company could “intimidate labor and human rights defenders all over Malaysia.”
Company representatives in Malaysia declined to comment.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/malaysia/2011/06/24/307375/Malaysia-defamation.htm

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Background

Charles Hector, human rights defender, activist, blogger and lawyer, did highlight human rights worker rights violations affecting some 31 Burmese migrant workers, all of whom were working at a company, Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd, in his blog.

The information provided by the workers. After they complaint about wages, wage deductions,.. they were threatened, there was attempts to send back workers to Burma, removal of electrical and cooking items and disconnection of electrical supply... Details of the said violations were then highlighted in the blog beginning 8/2/2011.

A joint statement about this was also issued by 80 over groups on 11/2/2011.

On 14/2/2011, the company sent a lawyers letter demanding USD3.2 million within 7 days, a public apology and the removal of the said postings or else they would file a legal suit.

This attempt to silence, and the threat resulted in a response from civil society groups, including AHRC, Trade Unions, Bar Council and the Malaysian Bar.

On 14/2/2011, the company did file the legal suit, and also an got ,amongst others, a 'gag' order' on 17/2/2011. All this were done without the knowledge of Charles Hector. The said order and the court documents was handed over to Charles Hector on 21/2/2011.

To send an urgent appeal, go to AHRC website or here.

To give donations and assist financially, ALIRAN has set up a Legal Defence Fund, go here for details

For legal case updates, go to 4/3/2011 , 21/3/2011, 30/3/2011, 7/4/2011, 11/4/2011, 25/5/2011, 24/6/2011, 27/6/2011, 23/8/2011,

The stay applied for was not granted by the Court of Appeal on 23/08/2011, and the trial at the High Court in Shah Alam is expected to proceed on the following day, i.e. 24/8/2011, 25/8/2011 and 26/8/2011.

Support Human rights defenders ; Support The Charles Hector Legal Defence Fund

Sunday, 3 July 2011

The China Post : Malaysia defamation case spotlights migrant rights

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