ATNC Monitoring Network protested at Hitachi in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the ATNC Monitoring Network, mainly members from Labour and China and Globalization Monitor, and SACOM went to Hitachi's office for protest this morning.

An Assistant Manager at Hitachi reiterated that it was not an issue in Hong Kong and refused to respond. The group was disappointed that the spokesperson simply denied any responsibility of the Hong Kong Hitachi office. However, he promised that he will send our statement to Hitachi headquarters. A journalist from RTHK came to report the action. Hope that it will be on air. 

 DROP THE CASE SAVE YOUR FACE

Background

* Hitachi is a customer of Asahi Kosei, and Asahi Kosei is in the supply chain of Hitachi. All the workers whose violation of rights  were highlighted by Charles Hector work at the Asahi Kosei factory producing the products of Asahi Kosei

* Hitachi has their own Hitachi Group Codes of Conduct - where they also claim that they will select suppliers that respect human rights,....they also subscribe to the UN Global Compact, and also the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct....

- this is the reason why the Hong Kong group decided to protest at Hitachi 

Chiangmai HR Defender Meet and Hand letter of concerns to Japanese Consulate - 17/8/2011

Representatives of Human Rights Defenders went to the Japanese Consulate in Chiangmai on 17/8/2011 to protest the actions of Japanese company, Asahi Kosei in Malaysia, who has commenced a legal suit against Charles Hector, for his highlighting human rights worker rights violations that were happening to 31 Burmese migrant workers in the Asahi Kosei factory. They called on the Japanese government to get this Japanese company to drop the case, and focus its attention in ensuring justice for the migrant workers.

The letter that was handed over is  as follows:-

Mr Kazuo Shibata, Consul-General

Consulate of Japan

Unit 104 – 107

Airport Business Park

90 Mahidol Rd                                                        PO Box 7

T. Haiya                                                                   Chiang Mai University

A. Muang                                                                 Chiang Mai 50100

Chiang Mai 50100                                                 Thailand

                                                                                  Tel: 66860904118

RE:      Asahi Kosei USD 3.2 million   legal suited against Malaysian Human Rights        Defender, Charles Hector

Attachments: 1. Background to the Case

                          2. Statement Released by ITUC 

Dear Mr Consul General Kazuo Shibata,

We, organizations and individuals who work to protect and promote the rights of workers,  migrants, women and refugees,  write to express our deep and continuing concerns about the USD 3.2 million libel suited files by Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd  in Malaysia against Mr. Charles Hector, human rights activists, lawyer and bloggers by reason of his highlighting of complaints of 31 Burmese workers who were working at Asahi Kosei concerning human rights and worker rights violations.

The Japanese government is not a party to this civil suit, but we are concerned over the 'silence' and ‘inaction’ on the part of the Japanese government, being also a member of OECD, as this will be perceived as implied consent and support of this attack by a Japanese company against human rights defenders, in this case Charles Hector for highlighting human rights violations.

We would also like to reiterate the Malaysian Bar’s call made on February 21 2011 [1], being the “call on Japanese authorities to launch immediate investigations into the authenticity of the allegations that Charles Hector has brought to light, and to act immediately to prevent the committing or continuation of any human rights abuses against migrant workers.”.

We also call on the Japanese Government to support and uphold the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 Dec 1998.  In particular, we urge the Government to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of these human rights defenders from any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of their legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration.

The next trial date is August 24-26 . The matter is therefore of great urgency. We, labour rights and human rights activists, sincerely request you to respond to this issue immediately and protect the right of Charles Hector and migrant workers to expose exploitative working conditions and to end the shifting of responsibility by  Japanese companies that outsource.

Yours sincerely,

Jacqueline Pollock, Migrant Assistance Program, Chiang Mai, Thailand

(signed on behalf of the following organization and individuals):

Burma Relief Centre

Estelle Cohenny

Foundation for Education and Development (FED)

Geoff Thant

Hall Andy, IPSR, Mahidol University

Htoo Chit, Director, Foundation for the Health and Knowledge of Ethnic Labour

Khin Ohmar, Coordinator, Burma Partnership

 Lanna Action for Burma (LAB)

Omsin Boonlert

Moe Swe,  Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (YCWOA)

Naing Aung, Secretary General, Forum for Democracy in Burma

Reena Arora
Sai Myint Thu, Secretary, Network for Democracy and Development

Studio Xang Art for Migrant Children

---

[1] http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/press_statements/press_release_defend_human_rights_defenders_and_safeguard_migrant_workers.html

Report of the Delegation of HR Defenders from Chiangmai about the meeting:-

Chiang Mai Activists Meet Vice Consul of Consulate of Japan, Chiang Mai

This morning, 17^th August, a delegation representing labour and human rights activists working with workers, migrants, women, refugees and children met with Vice Consul, Mr. Takashi Kohama of the Consulate of Japan in Chiang Mai. We presented a letter calling for the Japanese government to investigate the details of the USD 3.2 million defamation case brought against human rights lawyer and blogger, Charles Hector by a Japanese company Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd for posting information about exploitative working conditions for Burmese workers in the factory in Malaysia. The letter requested that action was taken to protect the right of Charles Hector and migrant workers to expose exploitative working conditions and to end the shifting of responsibility by Japanese companies that outsource. 

Vice Consul  Mr. Takashi Kohama expressed his concern regarding the situation. He said that in cases where Thai workers have been dissatisfied with working conditions of Japanese companies in Thailand, they have protested outside the Japanese embassy in Bangkok. Although these are cases between private companies and private workers, the embassy has tried to help a peaceful outcome to such situations.  He asked for details regarding the contact made in Malaysia with the Japanese embassy and it was reported that the Bar Council of Malaysia was at that time in a meeting with the embassy. Vice Consul  Mr. Takashi Kohama asked to be kept updated on the progress of the situation.

Jackie Pollock, Director
MAP Foundation
PO Box 7
Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Tel: 66860904118 www.mapfoundationcm.org

Thai Labour Activist Protest in Front of Japanese Embassy in Bangkok -17/8/2011

More than 20 of Thai activist and unionist read statement and submitted letter of concerns on Asahi Kosei USD 3.2 million legal suited against Malaysian Human Rights Defender, Charles Hector to Mr.Yukihiko Kaneko, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Even through the Japanese government is not a party to this civil suit, but we are concerned over the 'silence' and ‘inaction’ on the part of the Japanese government, being also a member of OECD, as this will be perceived as implied consent and support of this attack by a Japanese company against human rights defenders, in this case Charles Hector for highlighting human rights violations.
(Japanese embassy Bangkok 17/08/2011 )

El inquietante caso por difamación a un bloguero en Malasia (Global Voices - Espanol)

Esta es una publicación de la bloguera invitada, doctora Agnès Callamard, de ARTÍCULO 19 [en].

Antes del juicio por difamación al bloguero y defensor de derechos humanos - Charles Hector [en] el 28 y 29 de junio de 2011, ARTÍCULO 19 reclamó a la Corte Malasia considerar el caso siguiendo los lineamientos de los parámetros internacionales de libertad de expresión.

Dada la importancia fundamental del derecho a la libertad de expresión y su reconocimiento en el artículo 10 de la Constitución de Malasia, ARTÍCULO 19 instó a la Corte a garantizar que la ley de difamación de Malasia sea interpretada, hasta donde sea posible, de forma que respete  la libertad de expresión de Hector.

Charles Hector ha sido demandado por difamación ante la Corte Superior de Malasia en Shah Alam por la subsidiaria malasia de Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd, una compañía electrónica japonesa. El caso de difamación está centrado en artículos que Hector publicó en su blog en los que manifiesta su preocupación sobre el tratamiento que la compañía da a 31 trabajadores migrantes de Myanmar. Sus hallazgos estaban basados en averiguaciones que realizó. La compañía, que ha obtenido ya una orden de interdicción contra los posts del blog de Hector, demanda perjuicios por 10 millones de RM (ringgit, aprox. US$ 3.2 millones).

Aunque Malasia no ha firmado ni ratificado el Convenio Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos y los parámetros internacionales sobre difamación no son formalmente obligatorios para el país, ARTÍCULO 19 considera que la garantía constitucional del derecho a la libre expresión en Malasia permite un amplio ámbito de interpretación.

En particular, ARTÍCULO 19 instó a la Corte a reconocer que la carga de la prueba con respecto a la falsedad de las afirmaciones en el blog debe pesar en la parte demandante. Además bajo estándares internacionales aunque se haya demostrado que la afirmación de un hecho es falsa, los acusados en un proceso por difamación deben tener el beneficio de la defensa de una “publicación razonable”, conocida también como defensa de “diligencia debida” o “buena fe”. Por lo tanto, argumenta ARTÍCULO 19, Hector no debería ser hecho responsable si se establece que tenía la convicción de buena fe de la verdad de sus publicaciones.

ARTÍCULO 19 considera también que dada la naturaleza de su blog, Hector debería beneficiarse del privilegio de publicación razonable garantizado en el Acta de Difamación de Malasia. Finalmente, de rechazar la Corte las defensas y hallar difamatorias las afirmaciones, el monto de los perjuicios debe evaluarse con criterio de proporcionalidad.

ARTÍCULO 19 advierte que la compensación en la cuantía que la compañía busca habrá de generar un efecto coactivo sustancial en el futuro ejercicio del derecho a la libertad de expresión no sólo de parte de Hector sino también de otros medios y defensores de derechos humanos en Malasia.

Source: Global Voices, Espanol

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

ARTICLE 19 : Charles Hector Defamation Case Cause for Concern

Press release

Malaysia: Charles Hector Defamation Case Cause for Concern

ARTICLE 19

27 Jun 2011

 

Kuala Lumpur, 27.06.11: Ahead of Malaysia human right defender and blogger - Charles Hector’s defamation trial on 28-29 June 2011, ARTICLE 19 calls on the Malaysian Court to consider the case in line with international freedom of expression standards. Given the fundamental importance of the right to freedom of expression, and its recognition in Article 10 of the Malaysian Constitution, ARTICLE 19 urges the Court to ensure that Malaysian defamation law is interpreted, to the extent possible, in a manner that respects Hector’s freedom of expression.

Charles Hector is being sued for defamation at the High Court of Malaya in Shah Alam by the Malaysian subsidiary of Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd, a Japanese electronics company. The defamation case centres around articles Hector posted on his blog in which he raises his concerns about the companies’ treatment of 31 Myanmar migrant workers. His findings were based on research he carried out. The company, which has already obtained an injunction against Hector’s blog posts, is demanding damages of RM10 million (app. US$ 3.2 million).

“International standards on defamation provide protection and defences to certain statements in order to provide for free flow of information and open public debate,” said Dr Agnès Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director. “Under these standards and in many countries around the world, a case like this would be rejected,” continued Dr Callamard.  

Although Malaysia neither signed nor ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and international standards on defamation are not formally binding on the country, ARTICLE 19 believes the constitutional guarantee of the right to free speech in Malaysia allows wide scope for interpretation.

In particular, ARTICLE 19 calls on the Court to recognise that the burden of proof regarding the falsity of the blog statements should lie with the plaintiff. Furthermore, under international standards, even if a statement of fact on a matter of public concern has been proven to be false, defendants in a defamation law suit should benefit from a defence of ‘reasonable publication‘, also known defence of ‘due diligence’ or ‘good faith’. 

Hence, ARTICLE 19 argues that Hector should not be held liable if it is established that he held a good-faith belief in the truth of his posts.

ARTICLE 19 also believes that given the nature of his blog, Hector should benefit from the privilege of reasonable publication granted in the Defamation Act of Malaysia. Finally, should the Court reject defences and find the statements defamatory, the amount of damages must be assessed in the view of the proportionality.

ARTICLE 19 warns that the award in amount sought by the company could be expected to have a substantial chilling effect on the future exercise of the right to freedom of expression, not only for Hector but for other human rights defenders and media in Malaysia.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• To arrange a media interviews, please contact the ARTICLE 19 Press Office, Mona Samari, Senior Press Officer on mona@article19.org or call + 44 (207) 324 2510.

For more information please contact Barbora Bukovska, Senior Director for Law, at Barbora@article19.org

• For ARTICLE 19 standards on defamation, see Defining Defamation: Principles on Freedom of Expression and Protection of Reputation, available at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/standards/definingdefamation.pdf; or Defamation ABC, available at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/tools/defamation-abc.pdf.

• ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech. For more information on ARTICLE 19 please visit www.article19.org or follow article19org on Twitter.

 http://www.article19.org/pdfs/press/malaysia-charles-hector-defamation-case-cause-for-concern.pdf

Drawing by Liz Hilton