IMF Calls on Asahi Kosei to Drop Lawsuit against Charles Hector (14/7/2011)

 IMF IMB FIOM FITIM FISM
INTERNATIONAL METALWORKERS' FEDERATION
INTERNATIONALER METALLGEWERKSCHAFTSBUND
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DES ORGANISATIONS DE TRAVAILLEURS DE LA METALLURGIE
INTERNATIONELLA METALLFEDERATIONEN 

FEDERACION INTERNACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES DE LAS INDUSTRIAS METALURGICAS
FEDERAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE DEI SINDACATI METALMECCANICI

54 bis, route des Acacias
Case Postale 1516
CH-1227 Geneva
Switzerland

Telephone: ++ 41 22 308 50 50
Telefax: ++ 41 22 308 50 55
E-mail: info@imfmetal.org
Website: http://www.imfmetal.org
 

President: Berthold Huber
General Secretary: Jyrki Raina

Geneva, 14th July 2011

Mr Takeshi Nishitsuji
President
Asahi Kosei (M) SDN. BHD.
Lot 3377, Jalan Perusahaan Utama,
Taman Industri Selesa Jaya,
43300 Balakong, Selangor Darul Ehsan
MALAYSIA
Sent by email to asahi@po.jaring.my

IMF Calls on Asahi Kosei to Drop Lawsuit against Charles Hector

Dear Mr. Nishitsuji,

I write to you on behalf of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), which represents the collective interests of 25 million metalworkers from more than 200 unions in 100 countries, to call on Asahi Kosei to drop its defamation lawsuit, including its astronomical compensation claim, against human rights defender Charles Hector.
 

The IMF strongly believes that human rights defender Charles Hector should not be punished for making use of his legitimate right to freedom of expression. Charles Hector, acting in good faith, has highlighted in the public domain the plight of 31 Burmese migrant workers in your factory.
 

The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) calls on Asahi Kosei to act in accordance with Article 10 of the Malaysian Constitution as well as Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the right to freedom of expression. Furthermore, we urge Asahi Kosei to ensure their migrant workers be granted the full protection of the law in conformity with international labor standards and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
 

Therefore, we urge Asahi Kosei not only to desist in pursuing any legal actions against Charles Hector but to also look into the working conditions of migrant workers in your company and immediately address the serious concerns raised by human rights and labor rights defenders, including Charles Hector, over violations of their basic human and labor rights.

Sincerely,

Jyrki Raina
IMF General Secretary