Asian Farmers Call on to Stop Persecuting Irene Fernandez

Press Release
April 6, 2008

The 20 million members of the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) in 8 countries in Asia appeal to the Malaysian high court to nullify the criminal case against Irene Fernandez, a prominent human rights activist and a director of Tenaganita (Women Force) in Malaysia.

"In 1995, Irene Fernandez published a report on the living conditions of the migrant workers. She was arrested in 1996 and charged with 'maliciously publishing false news'. Ms. Fernandez case is considered the longest-running case in Malaysian history – she posted bail in 2003, after seven years of trial. The appeal hearings started in April 1 and expected to end on the 10th. Until today, the courts still impound her passport; preventing her to further advance her advocacy for the exploited people in Malaysia, Asia and the world," said Biplab Halim, APC Chairperson based in India.

"APC supports Ms. Fernandez, also concurrent vice chairperson for external affairs of APC, and call on the Malaysian high court to stop persecuting her. In January 2000, former detainees from Bangladesh testified that they were beaten and seriously injured; forced to perform sex acts on other detainees; kept in crowded, mosquito-infested rooms with foul toilets; denied medical care, water, and clean clothes; and forced to stand looking into the sun as a form of punishment. Her courage to voice out inhuman treatment of detainees is remarkable. In 2005, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for "her outstanding and courageous work to stop violence against women and abuses of migrant and poor workers. Ms. Fernandez faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison if convicted. We are proud to stand with her and other members of Tenaganita.," ended Halim. ###