Press Statement
Trial and Verdict of
Dr. Irene Fernandez
17th October 2003

Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) is very disappointed with the guilty verdict passed by the Magistrates Court Kuala Lumpur on 16 October 2003 for the offence of "publishing false news with malicious intent" through the Memorandum entitled, "Abuse, Torture and Dehumanized Treatment of Migrant Workers in Detention Camps."

WAO has always maintained that the charges against Dr. Irene Fernandez should have been made in the first place as Irene Fernandez was only raising issues of concern that were exposed through a series of interviews that Tenaganita conducted with migrant workers. NGOs are duty bound to surface these issues so that authorities can investigate and adopt corrective measures.

Unfortunately, the court has sent out a negative message that the government has the right to "shoot the messenger"

Furthermore, it is WAO's opinion that the defence was able to produce sufficient evidence to cast a doubt that migrant workers in detention camps during the 1995 period suffered abuse.

Yesterday was dark day for human rights defenders but we are resolved to continue our work without fear nor malice.

Ivy Josiah
Executive Director

Related Articles:

• Irene Fernandez Trial on Malaysiakini.com
• Talking Points - Defending the Defenders