Irene Fernandez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is an orphan, as few or no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from other articles related to it. (September 2008) |
Irene Fernandez (*1946) is the director and co-founder of the non-governmental organization Tenaganita, which promotes the rights of migrant workers and other oppressed and poor people in Malaysia.
In 1995, Irene Fernandez published a report on the living conditions of the migrant workers entitled "Abuse, Torture and Dehumanised Conditions of Migrant Workers in Detention Centres".[1] She was arrested in 1996 and charged with 'maliciously publishing false news'. After seven years of trial, she was found guilty in 2003 and convicted to one year imprisonment.Released on bail pending her appeal, her passport is held by the courts and, as a convicted person, she was barred from standing as parliamentary candidate in the 2004 Malaysian elections. Despite her restricted civil rights, she carries on her everyday life and continues her work.
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". [2]
13 years and 300 court appearances later, trial involved virus-infected computer files and incomprehensible writing by court officials exposing the poor state of affairs in Malaysian court system. [3] Irene Fernandez's appeal at the High Court resumed on the 28th Oct 2008. On the 24th of November 2008, Justice Mohd Apandi Ali overturned her earlier conviction and acquitted her of the earlier conviction.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Quotation
“We must change the rules of the global economy, for it is the logic of global capitalism that is the source of the disruption of society and of the environment. The challenge is that even as we deconstruct the old, we dare to imagine and win over people to our visions and programs for the new.” Irene Fernandez
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Activist Irene Fernandez acquitted". TheStar Online. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/24/nation/20081124141426&sec=nation. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Right Livelihood Award Recipient: Irene Fernandez". rightlivelihood.org. http://www.rightlivelihood.org/irene-fernandez.html. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
- ^ "Activist's case shows up Malaysian judiciary". Malaysian Insider. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/13074-activists-case-shows-up-malaysian-judiciary. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Irene Fernandez Freed". Sin Chew. http://www.mysinchew.com/node/18566. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
[edit] External links
- Organization Tenaganita
- Organization SUARAM
- Biography on Right Livelihood Award website
- Amnesty International's Publication Irene Fernandez defends the rights of migrant workers despite conviction
- Activist Irene Fernandez acquitted - The Star [1]
- Irene Fernandez: The Best or Worst of Malaysia? [2]
- Irene Fernandez acquitted after 13-year court battle [3]
- Ms. Irene Fernandez finally acquitted! [4]
- Interview with Irene Fernandez [5]
- Ms. Irene Fernandez finally acquitted! [6]
