“Migrants are human beings. They have the same rights as all of us,” so said Irene Fernandez when asked why she has dedicated her life to helping foreign workers whom Malaysians have invited into our country, and for some, into our homes. Last Monday, the High Court acquitted Fernandez, 64, of the charge of maliciously publishing false news on the conditions of immigration detention centres after a 13-year-long battle. In a memorandum released in 1995 entitled 'Abuse, Torture and Dehumanised Conditions of Migrant Workers in Detention Centres', Fernandez had alleged incidences of torture as well as deaths of undocumented migrants who were detained in the camps. (Why I defend migrant workers - Malaysiakini)
To a question 'What lessons did you learn from the ordeal?', she said perseverance. She also added that the acquittal was a personal victory in terms of freedom but not in terms of government's accountability as conditions in the detention camps have not changed. If only there were more Malaysian humans like Fernandez, not in NGOs but in government, who can feel and act for migrants.
To a question 'What lessons did you learn from the ordeal?', she said perseverance. She also added that the acquittal was a personal victory in terms of freedom but not in terms of government's accountability as conditions in the detention camps have not changed. If only there were more Malaysian humans like Fernandez, not in NGOs but in government, who can feel and act for migrants.
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