Members of Amnesty International in Thailand and Malaysia, together with academics, activists and students have sent an open letter to the AI Secretary-General regarding the interference on AI Malaysia.

29 April 2011

Mr. Salil Shetty
Secretary-General
Amnesty International (AI)
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street
London
WC1X 0DW, UK

Dear Mr. Shetty,

We, the members of Amnesty International (AI), human rights activists, and individuals, are writing to you to raise our serious concerns regarding the intervention by International Secretariat specifically by Mr. Benjamin Zawacki, AI Southeast Asia Researcher and Ms. Donna Guest, the Asia-Pacific Deputy Director to block the dialogue that was planned to be held by AI Malaysia on the issue of human rights violations and the case in the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thailand.

On 23 April 2011, AI Malaysia planned to hold a dialogue with Mr. Robert Amsterdam, the lawyer representing the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. Mr. Amsterdam had previously represented many individuals and human rights defenders including Dr. Chee Soon Juan, a Singaporean human rights defender and the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party. AI had taken action to protect Dr. Chee’s right to freedom of expression.

Mr. Amsterdam had filed a case at the ICC against Abhisit Vejajiva-led government for ordering the military crackdown in April-May 2010 which resulted in the deaths of 92 people, mostly civilians, and 2,000 people injured.

AI Malaysia received strong instructions from the International Secretariat demanding them to cancel dialogue session. The action is a clear violation on the very principle central to human rights for which is on freedom of expression and opinion, toleration of different opinions and ideas, and fighting against culture of impunity. This action further violates the core values of AI which is international solidarity, the universality and indivisibility of human rights.

By directing AI Malaysia to cancel the holding of such event, Amnesty International is taking the same approach by the Thai government in banning Mr. Amsterdam from entering Thailand, and thus violating Mr. Amsterdam the right to exercise his freedom of expression.

We, as the members of Amnesty International, human rights activists, and individuals, urgently ask you as the Secretary General to investigate the interference made by Mr. Zawacki and Ms. Guest, including the explanations for their actions. We look forward to hearing from you on the above and please acknowledge the receipt of this letter.

Yours Sincerely,

   1. Boonson Ransikanbum, AI Thailand member
   2. Chonrada Narawasinchai, AI Thailand member
   3. Pachabedee Pumpoung, AI Thailand member
   4. Panithida Phongpaew, AI Thailand member
   5. Patcharee Pabua, AI Thailand member
   6. Pimsiri Petchnamrob, AI Thailand member
   7. Kwanravee Wangudom, AI Thailand member
   8. Suluck Lamubol, AI Thailand member
   9. Pokpong Lawansiri, AI Thailand member
  10. Vorakorn Ruetaivanichkul, AI Thailand member
  11. Orawan Raweegoon, AI Thailand member
  12. Vipavadee Panyangnoi, AI Thailand member
  13. Pansak Srithep, AI Thailand member
  14. Ong Jing Cheng, AI Malaysia member
  15. Mohd Hariszuan Jaharudin, AI Malaysia member
  16. Nor Aishah, AI Malaysia member
  17. Phyo Win Latt, AI Malaysia member
  18. Azrul Areef, AI Malaysia member
  19. Rizal  Hamdan, AI Malaysia member
  20. Alinsek, AI Malaysia member
  21. Firdaus Samad, AI Malaysia member
  22. Firdaus Zulkifli, AI Malaysia member
  23. Arif Abdull, AI Malaysia member
  24. Daud Mili, AI Malaysia member
  25. Faisal Aziz, AI Malaysia member
  26. Farha Nabiha, AI Malaysia member
  27. Farhan Haziq, AI Malaysia member
  28. Hui Fei, AI Malaysia member
  29. Choo Chon Kai, AI Malaysia member
  30. Nadia Abu Bakar, AI Malaysia member
  31. Soh Sook Hwa, AI Malaysia member
  32. Alip Aizar, AI Malaysia member
  33. Zaki Shukor, AI Malaysia member
  34. Amir Farid, AI Malaysia member
  35. CJ Hinke, Freedom against Censorship Thailand
  36. Pratubjit Neelaphaijit, Justice for Peace Foundation, Thailand
  37. Chulasak Keawkan, human rights lawyer, Thailand
  38. Dr. Jim Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, The University of Adelaide, Australia
  39. Lee Siewha, Malaysia Support Group for Democracy in Thailand
  40. Adisorn Kerdmongkol, Vice President, Peace way Foundation, Thailand 
  41. Andrew Spooner, freelance journalist and PhD Candidate, United Kingdom 
  42. Lee Kyu Yung, journalist, Thailand
  43. Dr. David Streckfuss, independent scholar, Thailand
  44. Dr. Kengkij Kitirianglarb, Faculty of Social Science, Kasetsart University, Thailand
  45. Dr. Kewin Hewison, Professor in Asian Studies, University of North Carolina
  46. Dr. Tyrell Haberkorn, Department of Political and Social Change, Australian National University
  47. Junya Yimprasert, Action for People’s Democracy Thailand
  48. Anuthee Dejthevaporn, former Secretary-General, Student Federation of Thailand
  49. Bencharat Saechua, Center for Human Rights Studies and Social Development, Mahidol University, Thailand
  50. Bidhayak Das, Journalist, Thailand
  51. Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn, Lecturer, Thammasat University
  52. Laura Mclennan, Teacher, Thailand
  53. Palida Prakarapho, Philosophy Student, Silpakorn University
  54. Patcharee Sae-eaw, human rights defender, Thailand
  55. Pichate Yingkiatkun, Thai Netizen Network
  56. Pipob Udommitipong, Translator/interpreter, Thailand 
  57. Pratchayaa Surakamchonrot, political activist, Thailand
  58. Irene Xavier, Friends of Women, Malaysia
  59. Adiren Pereira, Community Action Network, Malaysia
  60. MaraChin Abdullah, EMPOWER, Malaysia
  61. Suharuddin Adnan, Labor Resource Center, Malaysia  
  62. Saksith Saiyasombut, University of Hamburg, Germany
  63. Jirutsun Pramualsilp, student, Thammasat University, Thailand 
  64. Saisamphan Ratanapredakorn, Postgraduate student, University of London
  65. Teeranai Charuvastra, Postgraduate student, University of London
  66. Trin Aiyara, Researcher, Thammasat University, Thailand
  67. Heli Kontio, Helsinki, Finland
  68. Donald Jordan, Helsinki, Finland
  69. Siriluk Sriprasit, Postgraduate student, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
  70. Igor Christodoulou, United Kingdom