Defend Malaysian Human Rights Lawyer Charles Hector

31 March 2021  circulated by Legal Action for Women

Dear friends,

Thank you to all who signed the Open Letter (here) to the Prime Minister and Malaysian authorities condemning attempts to discredit and criminalize human right lawyer Charles Hector and the villagers he represents against logging contractors.

We heard from Mr Hector that the court case has been adjourned until 6 April at 10am at the Kuantan High Court (five hours travel from his home).

If you know of people who may be interested to sign but haven’t been able to please ask them. Please distribute the letter to your networks and ask people to sign here or by sending an email to law@allwomencount.net.

Many thanks,

Power to the movement for truth and justice,

Legal Action for Women

Update on case of Malaysian human rights lawyer Charles Hector and the villagers he represents.

31 March 2021

Fifteen lawyers, including Michael Mansfield QC, over 40 organisations and nearly 70 individuals from six countries, signed the Open Letter distributed by Legal Action for Women, UK. This is an impressive number, especially considering the tight deadline.

Charles Hector, is representing eight community human rights defenders who have been opposing logging in their community since 2013 because of the grave threat caused to the environment and to the survival of the community that depends on it. 

The charge of contempt, which if proven could criminalise and disbar Mr Hector, arises from the false claim that a letter sent by him is in breach of an Interlocutory Injunction. Mr Hector and the eight defendants reject this claim as the letter was a legitimate request for information to enable the defendants to prepare for trial.  

Charles Hector is being represented by Mr Ramachelvam from Messrs Rama Rozi who was present in court on March 25, 2021.

The Malaysian Bar Council has applied to come into the case on 'Watching Brief' and was represented in court by Mr Ong Siew Wan.

See press coverage here:

See statement from Forum Asia and Front Line Defenders here:

See letter to the Malaysian authorities from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada here:

On behalf of In Defence of Charles Hector campaign team: IndefenceofCharlesHector@protonmail.com