Sunday, November 30, 2008

从严碧霞的判决的感想

11月27日,吉隆坡地庭针对严碧霞虐待女佣的案子下了判决。严碧霞3项伤人罪名成立,每一项罪名判18年,供54年,同时执行 -- 需收监18年。

我看了各方的报导 -- 决定引用光明日报的报导,写下我对于每一位涉及人物的感想(下列蓝色的字眼)。

虐女傭判監54年‧嚴碧霞4控狀3罪成

(吉隆坡)前空姐嚴碧霞涉虐待印尼籍女傭案件經過4年8個月審訊後,地庭法官於今日(週四,11月27日)作出裁決,宣判被告嚴碧霞的首3項控狀罪名成立,每項罪名判監18年共54年,不過,刑期同期並即時執行。

法官阿達爾裁定被告在首3項控狀,即分別使用熱水及熨斗致傷尼瑪拉罪名成立;另一項使用鐵杯蓄意致傷尼瑪拉則在證據不足下,撤銷罪狀。

被熱水熨斗傷害

40歲的嚴碧霞聞判後,在犯人欄內強忍淚水,在法庭宣佈休庭時,仍冷靜地走出犯人欄,過後投向其丈夫許益忠懷抱放聲大哭,許益忠則眼紅紅地緊抱著妻子給予安慰。

法官阿達爾在選讀判詞時指出,根據證人醫生供詞,控方成功證明受害人尼瑪拉被熱水及熨斗嚴重傷害,導致她無法正常進行日常生活包括沖涼。

“因此案件關鍵所在於是誰致傷受害者?被告在辯護律師代表下否認4項罪名,並提出受害人有自虐傾向。”

無法證明是自虐

但法官卻認為,辯方僅提出受害人有自虐的可能性,但無法提出證明這是事實,更何況沒有任何人,包括被告及其丈夫目睹受害者曾自虐。

他說,辯方提出受害人曾將頭敲向牆壁或挑戰被告將喝下尿液骯髒水,但他並不認為這可導致受害人身上嚴重的傷處,因此他認為這項說法不成立。

他繼說,受害者從案件開始迄今,供詞時都清楚及一致指出傷害她的人是其女僱主,即是被告。

第4項控狀撤銷

“受害者並不是自己求助或自首,而是在滿身傷痕累累時被保安人員發現。如果受害者如辯方所說般威脅被告要錢離開,她僅需傷害自己一次就足夠了,但從其身上傷口顯示,傷口都是重複所致。”

針對第4項控狀,法官則取納證人醫生的供詞,即受害者鼻子的傷痕並不是在當時所致,因此宣判撤銷此控狀。

無論如何,辯方將向申請暫緩刑罰,並將極力爭取上訴。

指傷處乃自虐所致精神專家證供推翻

法官阿達爾指出,法庭並不接受來自澳洲精神鑒證專家證人的供證,即指受害人尼瑪拉身上傷處是自虐所致。

他表示,這名來自澳洲證人的口供存有偏見,因為他直接作出判決指受害者所承受的傷屬自虐,並不是他人所為。

“這名證人在案件中扮演多個角色,除證人外,甚至也是‘律師’及‘法官’,他直接為案件作出裁決。其實最好的驗證方法是讓這名證人親自見過受害者,但他並沒有這麼做。”

他指出,精神鑒證專家證人僅根據提供的受害者受傷的照片作出裁決,因此法庭不能接受其供詞。

辩方会请精神专家来证明受害者可能是自虐,我并不觉得意外。毕竟当所有的证据都呈现在大众的面前,你除了证明伤痕是由自虐导致,你别无他法。我只是很惊讶,惊讶的是,该名精神科专家可以通过提供的照片作出裁决,而不是请自见过受害者,了解情况。当然,严女士是有钱人,有钱人聘请的刑事案律师,自然有他们的方法。

法官说得真好“ 這名證人在案件中扮演多個角色,除證人外,甚至也是‘律師’及‘法官’,他直接為案件作出裁決。”存有偏见的专业证人的供词遭推翻,是当然的事 ---


表妹指受害者精神病母親否認獲法庭接納

法官阿達爾也提及受害者表妹菲美娜曾指受害者患有精神病及癲癇症,他說,儘管法庭接納菲美娜出庭作證,惟其供詞與案件無直接聯繫。

“菲美娜的供詞與案件無直接聯繫,因為當事件發生時,菲美娜並無在現場,而受害者的母親曾親口否認女兒患有任何精神病。”

他續說,受害者也被指患有癲癇症,但經過電腦波檢驗後,並無證據指她患有此病症。

“被告身上許多傷處是她無法自虐而造成的,她也無須多此一舉地將熨斗放在其背後燙傷自己,她無須這麼做。”

自虐??当我不小心被火烫到、或者被东西敲到,我就会立刻哇哇叫。我们人对于伤害会有很自然的反射反应。即使是有自虐倾向的当事人,他们会选择不会造成自己的身体太大损伤的方式。Nirmala的种种伤痕,可以由自虐所造成?尤其是她背后,体无完肤的伤痕?即使是小孩子,可能也无法相信吧!

不曾犯下罪行被告堅持清白

辯方律師日月星為被告求情時指出,被告從案件開審迄今,都堅持本身是清白的,不曾犯下罪行。

他指出,被告是一名前空姐,之後也曾在服裝店擔任分行經理,與其丈夫育有4名年幼的孩子。

“被告的宗教教義教導她不能犯下如此錯誤,這也是為何她一直堅持自己是清白的。撇開她的罪刑,被告的性格是無瑕疵的。”

无瑕疵?一个性格无瑕疵的人,会懂得如何处理自己的愤怒,而不是将愤怒用暴力的方式发泄在其他人的身上。一个性格无瑕疵的人,懂得如何珍惜及宽容的对待每一个人,即使那人是没有受过太多教育的弱势群体。一个性格无瑕疵的人,懂得如何为自己的行为负责,而不是将责任推到其他人的身上。

宗教教义?对不起。很多案例证明,拥有强烈宗教教义的人,他们亦会犯下这样的行为。而且,他们犯的时候,无往不利。为什么?因为没有人会相信,这么“好”的人会有这样的行为。因此,她们可以更安心的犯错。

他也提及此案受害者之後的遭遇,受害者獲得許多公眾捐助,甚至成為富豪了;而她返回印尼時,也受到當地熱烈歡迎。

那又如何?受害者现在过着什么生活,和你的当事人的罪行一点关系也没有。即使她现在过神仙的生活,这也不会减低你的当事人当人为她所造成的伤害。

难道,Nirmala应该为她现在的生活跪地感激你的当事人吗?拥有一个美好的生命是一个人本来就因该拥有的权力 。。熟读法律的您,难道不知道吗?

主控官羅茲拉副檢察司則要求法庭繼續執行重刑,同時,控方也針對受害人所承受的傷害,而向法庭申請要求向被告索償。

主控官援引刑事程序法典426條文,以向法庭做出此項申請。

她指出,辯方在審訊期間多番指受害者患有精神病及自虐症,為受害者帶來更大的傷害,更何況案件涉及公眾利益,因此希望法庭能考量這因素。

無論如何,法官阿達爾在宣判時並未提及此項申請。

其实,我很欣赏这名检控官。她所引用的条款《刑事法典第326條文,罪名成立可判坐牢高達20年,另加罰款和鞭刑(法律規定,不能對女性施予鞭刑)》很少检控官会引用这样的条款。更多的时候,是警察在进行调查的时候,就先将之锁定在323或324,325已经是相当少见的了。

更让我惊讶的是,她会选择用426条款要求行事的赔偿。虽然,法官没有批准此项申请,而辩方律师亦反对这样的申请,因为他表示受害者已经对辩方提出民事的赔偿 -- 但是对于检控官的这个申请,我给予正面的评价。

如果我们的DPP都能如她一样,在处理各类的案件的时候,可以更专业,站在受害者的角度多考虑一些,我想我们都不会对我们的司法界那么没有信心吧!

辯方律師日月星後接受媒體訪問時指出,辯方將於週四上午提出上訴。針對法庭的判決,他則表示法庭判決的確嚴重,因為一些涉及謀殺的案件也未必判如此重刑。

被告聞判與夫抱頭痛哭

身穿白色上衣服黑色裙子的嚴碧霞於早上9點15分左右在丈夫及親友抵達法庭,當她看見親友前來支持打氣時,也感動地擁抱對方。

當嚴碧霞聞判後,在休庭時與其丈夫、姐姐及朋友抱頭痛哭。

其丈夫許益忠在過去審訊日子裡,幾乎每次審訊都陪伴妻子出法庭,堅持為妻子打氣。

當許益忠聽見法官的宣判時不禁搖頭, 儘管眼睛佈滿淚水,但仍能保持冷靜情緒;當他離開法庭時,雙眼已通紅。

法官的話常舉受害者弱點被告仍存怒氣

法官阿達爾指出,被告在過去3年多的審訊日子裡,在供詞時仍不時指責受害者的弱點,因此可見被告在3年多的時間內,仍對受害者存有怒氣。

“被告在審訊期間仍對受害者的弱點作出強調,即時直到現在,她也是如此,更何況她承認曾經掌刮受害者。”

法官也提及案件另兩名證人的口供,即菲美娜的雇主及被告丈夫許益忠。他指出,儘管菲美娜的雇主的供詞遭控方的彈劾,但該證人僅盡其關心社會人士的責任。

針對被告丈夫許益忠的供詞,法官則認為對方的確是一名可靠的證人,惟他大多數時間都不在家裡,根本無法清楚了解整起事件的來龍去脈。

“其丈夫非常忙碌,他僅依據被告的說辭了解案件的進展。”

殘忍行為社會難接受心靈創傷永留須重判

法官阿達爾宣讀判詞時指出,儘管受害者在為被告作家務時出現差錯,但被告並無任何理由如此嚴重致傷受害者,而這種殘忍的行為是不被文明社會所接受,因此被告須接受重判。

他指出,法庭唯一可考慮被告求情的理由僅有受害者身上的傷害已康復,但法官卻提出疑問,儘管受害者身體上的傷害已復原,但其心理上所受的創傷是否得以復原?

“法庭必須考慮案件對受害者在將來是否存有影響,儘管3年過去了,受害者的心靈是否仍受到創傷, 我們並不了解,因此在公眾利益下,嚴重的刑罰必須執行。”

“法庭原可將3項控狀的刑罰分期執行,唯54年監禁對被告而言太沉重了,因此法庭判決刑期同時執行。”

辩方的律师说过这样的判决很过分,因为她并没有造成死亡、毁容、永久的伤害。这就是刑事案一流、高价位的辩护律师 ---

我怀疑,如果受到这样的对待的,是辩方律师自己的女儿,他是否仍然会这样说?

肉体的创伤是可以复原的,但是心灵的创伤却是永久的烙印 --

我们应该支持严判,因为虐待女佣、中介人虐待外籍越南新娘的案例是很多的,女佣被雇主殴打是很平常的事情,因为我们马来西亚是没有保障这些女佣的,他们不受劳工法令的保护,因为我们并没有Recognise Domestic Helper as workers,因此她们没有基本劳工应该享有的权利。

其实,严碧霞会犯下这样的错误,马来西亚政府必须负上一部分的责任。如果马来西亚政府的劳工法令可以保护女佣,我们的雇主也不会以为自己是太上皇,可以奴役他们了。

印尼大使尊重判決

印尼大使館第三等秘書珊蒂指出,儘管尼瑪拉之前受到極大的傷害,但他們也將尊重法庭的判決。

她受訪時指出,案件涉及公眾利益,而法庭依據司法程序進行審訊。

她說,尼瑪拉是在案件發生後,公眾同情其遭遇下資助她。

辯方律師日月星後接受媒體訪問時指出,辯方將於週四上午提出上訴。針對法庭的判決,他則表示法庭判決的確嚴重,因為一些涉及謀殺的案件也未必判如此重刑。

这样的判决会给我们马来西亚的雇主什么正面的冲击呢?这样的判决可以让马来西亚政府有什么学习呢?我们何时才能更有效的保护她们呢?

我在今天的当今大马,看到了一名读者的来函

Teoh Boo Siew)

I was shocked when the cruelty of Yim was first reported. But now, I am even more shocked at the sentence meted out. Is this what you call justice tempered with mercy?

Granted this woman has committed a crime (of anger?) and has been found guilty. But justice must be tempered with mercy. To sentence her to 18 years imprisonment, speaks very badly of our learned judge and justice system.

They did not take into consideration that a family's well-being, with very young innocent children, will be very badly affected.

Rather, the sentence meted out only serves to whet the blood-thirsty appetite of vengeance from the public and, in particular, our neighbouring country's press and people.

Everyone was in an uproar and crying for blood when the case first came up - especially our neighbouring country. And our justice system has bowed to their demand!

The sentence meted out does not reflect a justice system that is fair, strict and at the same time merciful. Don't you think a punishment of say a RM30,000 fine, and a three-year bond for good behaviour is enough?

Do we need to overcrowd our prisons, meant for hard-core criminals with this woman? I shudder what will happen to her family. Dear judges who are part of our justice system, have mercy.

My reply:

When a foreign domestic helper come to our country to work, they come with a beautiful hope. Hoping they can earn some little money to improve their family standard of living.

As an employer, we are suppose to protect our worker. Our work place suppose to be a place safe for her to work.

We are all human being and we will have our anger and frustration when our worker was not able to meet our expectation. But, this do not grant us a permission to abuse our worker or to use violenec against our worker.

Yim, as an employer. She should make her house a safe place for Nirmala to work. But this place become a hell for her -- suffered all sort of abuses, be it physical or physchological day and night. We are talking about repeating abuses here where a sound and rational human being will not able to do it REPEATEDLY.

You talk about mercy. About Yim's family well being. Yes. This is a point should be noted. What about Nirmala? She also is someone daugther who deserve to be well treated.

You said "The sentence meted out does not reflect a justice system that is fair, strict and at the same time merciful. Don't you think a punishment of say a RM30,000 fine, and a three-year bond for good behaviour is enough?"

For the defence lawyer to mitigate for a less sentencing can only come if the accused admitted. Look at Yim, until today, she still say she is innocent. Can mitigation happened?

Your suggestion is a silly suggestion that allow people to think they can be free if they got money. You talk about her children. If this really happened, the children will think it is ok to abuse or take away other people right as long as you got the money. The children will feel they don't have to be responsible for what they do. This sound less damage for the children? I don't think so.

I am sorry. For these kind of abusive behavior, it is only right if she was imprisonment for what she did. Three-year bond for good behaviour --- to reflect a justice system that is fair,strict at the same time mercy. Mercy need to consider both ways.

For the fact the judge allow the sentencing to run concurrently and allow her to stay for execution while waiting for appeal. This is mercy enough.

Labels:

给严碧霞女士的一封信

严女士:

看到法庭于11月27日宣布的判决后,本来当天就想写一封信给你,但是因为太累了,没有办法动笔。

昨天,看到你得以地厅暂延执行你的判监刑罚,让你以20万令吉保外,等待上诉的结果。你一直坚持你是清白的,你说与27日晚与你住在一起的9名印尼女囚犯都不相信你会犯错。我看了这样的报导,我很难过、很生气。本来决定昨天给你写的信,只好展延了,因为我不希望我的信有太大的愤怒情绪。

你一直坚持你没有错,可是你没有办法解释她身上瞩目惊心的伤痕是如何造成的,因此你坚持该名女佣身上的伤痕是自己造成的,因为她的精神很有问题。而为你辩护的律师,的确很努力的找证人以期证明这一点。

你在自辩的时候,竭尽所能的来证明她是多么可恶、懒惰的女佣,来合理化你的行为、你对于她的愤怒(你只承认你有打过她巴掌)。

你知道吗?即使你的确花了一些钱给女佣的代理将她带回你家工作,她只是你的一个员工,她并不是你的奴隶。如果她真的不如你所愿,你可以解雇她,但是不表示你可以这样来对待一个人。
你绝对有生气的权力,但是生气不表示你就可以伤害他人的身体。虽然你雇用了她,但是你不是拥有了她的生杀大权 --- 你只是她的雇主而已。

可能,我们都不应该将这个责任都怪在你的身上。我们的政府并没有教导聘请女佣的雇主你如何做一个比较人道的雇主 -- 不只是你,很多雇主都像你一样,以为女佣是她们的奴隶,只是她们做得比较不明显。更多的雇主,认为没有人会帮助这些女佣,只要我们不让她和外界联络,我们就可以对她们为所欲为。我们都没有学会如何做一个像样的雇主。虽然,我们自己做人家的员工的时候,如果我们的雇主对我们一点点的不好,我们找就跟他们拼命了。

很多雇主和你一样,认为自己既然花了一堆钱将女佣聘请会来,那么她们应该懂得做所有的家事。我们不能理解,为什么这些女佣不懂得如何用电器(熨斗、微波炉、电锅、洗衣机等等)。可是你知道吗?很多这些孩子在她们的家乡过着贫苦的日子,我们认为理所当然的必需品,对他们来说,她们可能重来都没有见过,既然没有见过,她们需要时间去学习如何去用这些东西。问题是,我们有这样的同理心吗?我们愿意去了解并去协助她们来达到我们的要求吗?

你是4个孩子的母亲,最后一个孩子才4岁(我记得当年,你怀孕上法庭过堂的时候,很多中文媒体突然都很同情你 -- 你像那个被迫害的受害者,很知道如何掌握媒体、大众心理学)。你的辩护律师在要求你保外的时候,说过你的孩子很需要你。可是,你知道吗?Nirmala 也是人家的孩子 --- 你是一名母亲,你一定非常了解母亲保护孩子的心情,你一定舍不得你的孩子受到那么一点点的委屈,对吗?那么,难道Nirmala的母亲不应该有同样的期盼吗?

我是这样想的,你和你的家人一定没有想过事情后来会演变得那么严重 --- 当这件事情被媒体如此报导,你当然会开始慌了,因此决定否认到底。这是当然的事情,因为如果你认罪了,这是非常可怕的事情,你害怕你不知道如何去面对你接下来的生命、你的孩子,因此你坚持不认罪。这些,我都可以理解、体谅。

但是,你知道吗?体谅你有如此的反应,不代表认为你不需要为你自己的行为负责。

其实,你是很幸运的。因为你们家很有钱,因此你可以请第一流的律师,你甚至可以请一名澳洲的精神科专家来为你证明,她的伤口可能是自残导致。

我有时候会怀疑,你的几位孩子会从这样的事件学习到什么?

当然,我的前提假设是他们由你来照顾,一同住在屋檐下的他们绝对曾经看过一些事,而这几年来的诉讼,你已经将你对于Nirmala的愤怒转移给他们了 -- 因为你不希望他们认为他们的母亲会做这样的事情,那么你当然会自保,将过错都推到Nirmala的身上及帮助她的人。

首先,你的孩子会学会憎恨 -- 憎恨Nirmala及其他的印尼女佣,因为她们让自己的母亲受苦,让你们的家少了妈妈、爸爸少了太太。他们不会相信自己的妈妈做错事情,因为这是他们的妈妈。

接着,你的孩子学会不需要为自己的行为负责。千错万错,都是其他人的错。因此,以后当他们犯错,他们可能会如你一样,将手指往外指,而忘记看一看自己曾经做过什么?

最后,他们相信钱是万能的。只要你有钱,你就可以请最好的律师脱罪;只要你有钱,你就可以不把你请来工作的人当人 ---

我很担心,因为 ---

现在你仍然坚持你没有错。现在,为你辩护的律师仍然说,你是人格毫无瑕疵的一个人。现在,你们甚至说你是个虔诚的教徒,因此你不可能犯错 -- 你是清白无辜的。

最后,我要问 -- 你的孩子们,会从你的坚持学到什么呢?我真的很担心。

最美丽的生命不是一个完整无缺的生命,不是一个没有犯过错误的生命 ---

而是一个愿意为自己的过错负责,愿意为自己的生命负责的生命。

恭喜你获得保外等待上诉 -- 你服刑的日子获得展延

我真的期盼有那么一天,你愿意放下你的恐惧、你的愤怒,找到为自己的过错负责的勇气。

Yuxian
30/11/2008

Labels: ,

Monday, November 24, 2008

我的启蒙老师艾琳斐南德斯无罪释放


第一次听到她的名字是1995年,当她将一份长长的阐述外劳在扣留营里遭到不人道对待的备忘录后,将扣留营黑幕公布于世的时候。接着,1996年她被逮,后来更援引《1984年印刷机与出版法令》第8A(2)条款控告她“蓄意发表不实消息”。

她是我对于人权课题的启蒙老师 -- 因为她,我认识到我们马来西亚执法单位的不公正。因为她,我认识到外劳、外来移民和我们一样都是人,都应该享有最基本的权益及照顾。

长长7年的审讯,2003年当法庭判她罪名成立,需做一年的监狱 -- 这的判决曾经伤透了很多积极参与社会运动,相信正义的人。

希望可以透过揭发事情的真相,捍卫这些弱势群体的朋友,最后因此而必需为她的正义坐牢。这是相信世间仍然存有正义的我无法理解的事情。

我在妇女援助中心工作的这些日子里,我时常有机会接触艾琳,即使我知道她和我的顶头大上司有点过节,但是我从不掩饰我对她的敬爱。

因为反贩卖人口的工作,我和她、她的妹妹常一同出席一些会议。从她的身上,我看到一位坚持捍卫身为一个人的基本权益而奋斗的勇士,散发的光芒。有几次,看到她拿着拐杖,慢慢、辛苦的走每一步路,但是仍然坚持的身影,我就很想拥抱她、很想哭。

能够认识您,和您共事 -- 我很感恩。恭喜您。
谢谢您让我学习放下我对某些事情的偏见,感激您让我成为一个以人为本的社会工作者、社会运动份子。

艾琳在当今大马的一篇专访http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93799

Why I defend migrant workers

“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.

They are here for the good life we have and we have a responsibility to protect them while they are in our country. We are accountable for what we do to them.

“Without them, we would not have the same economic growth we are enjoying today with the kind of cheap labour they are used for,” Fernandez told Malaysiakini in a one-hour interview at her office in Tenaganita. “Some of them go through the same kind of servitude and slavery that is supposedly banished from this country. If I’m in another country, I would expect the people there to protect me. If we cannot protect migrants, then we have no rights to have migrants here at all.”

But the Tenaganita director also drew parallels between the new migrant workers and those who have come to Malaysia from impoverished India and China in the last century.“It is very similar to how the British colonialists used migrant labour in the plantations as cheap labour. Today, we are reacting because as descendants of those migrants who were marginalised, we have that consciousness that we cannot remain marginalised.

“History is repeating itself. I am a product of that, I know what my parents went through. If we do not respond, our children will also suffer at the hands of the same oppressive government.”

The following is an abstract of the one-hour interview 24 hours after 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

How did you react when you were acquitted?

I didn’t believe that at that point yesterday (Monday) I would be set free and acquitted. I expected the trial to go on this whole week, and the judge would give his judgment, and that’s when things would be much clearer.

But when the prosecution (deputy public prosecutor Shamsul Sulaiman) stood up to say that ‘in order to ensure justice, we will not oppose the appeal’, I knew.

How did you feel?

I was surprised. I believed I’ve been right all this time and I believed I spoke the truth. What I didn’t quite believe in was the judicial system and how independent it is. So, it did come as a surprise.

My first reaction was I gasped, I covered my face and I cried, because 13 years is a very long time. It's been a 13-year struggle with a lot of restrictions. Therefore, it really was to say, 'I'm free'. There is excitement. There is hope. (But) the battle is not over.

The younger generations may not be aware of what exactly had led to the court case. Tell us about the controversial memorandum that you submitted to the government.

We all knew about the conditions in the immigration detention centres. You yourself (referring to Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan) had done your own independent research and interviews and found that there were deaths in the (Semenyih detention) camp, and there were attempts to publish these findings in a special issue of The Sun. It didn’t see the light of day.

And so since Tenaganita had done interviews during its course of research on migration, health and HIV/AIDS and we had the information, we called a press conference, sent a memorandum to the government on the conditions, in this case, of the detention centres where these migrant workers were being held.

I had sent it (memorandum) to all relevant agencies and expected that at the least they would do their own investigations and hold accountable all the officers responsible for the torture and abuse and deaths in the camp.

What was in the memorandum?

It was horrific - horrific because there were deaths in the camps. We had migrants who said they had seen 20 deaths. They held the detainees in their arms as they died. There were abuses. There was denial of sufficient food and water. People died from beri-beri. There were at least 46 deaths.

When the government holds people under custody, you have to hold them responsible so that the lives are protected under that custody. So when people die from beri-beri - that is blatant torture and abuse. It’s like a planned or organised, premeditated murder. You see the guy shrinking, but there’s no access to treatment, and then he died. How can you just let go?

And beri-beri is considered a very easily treatable disease.

Exactly. It was a really, really serious issue. The torture, how people were abused, the conditions in the toilets that were blocked with excreta, the other contagious diseases. Migrants were wearing the same pants and shirt that they entered the camps with. Women had no sanitary napkins. Pregnant women could get no special care. It was really horrific.

Someone had described it as a ‘hell hole’.

I wrote that it was like concentration camps in peace times, which became one of the items in my charge sheet. It was an opinion (piece) that they had turned into a factual aspect for the charge sheet.

In March 18, 1996, I was arrested in my home and charged for publishing false news - not for criminal defamation under the Printing Presses and Publications Act. It came to be an issue of freedom of expression and the right of someone to raise the issue on behalf of the voiceless.

The intention (of the memorandum) was to inform the government in the hope that they would take action. But instead they took action against you?

Yes, to my surprise, when I returned from the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, I discovered that the police were hunting for me. The Semenyih camp commandant had filed a criminal defamation report against me, and the police used that report to investigate me.

The other surprise was that when I did go for questioning, the police were not interested in the issues. They were interested in the people who gave the information. That’s when I thought I was not going to give them (the information), because they would then go for the migrant workers who gave information.

As a researcher, it was my responsibility to hold the confidentiality that I ensured them when they gave the interviews. In the end, I gave the names of three persons who did the interviews. Two were my staff, and one was a Bangladeshi social worker.

The issue of spreading false news under the printing law has always been used against journalists, and not so much NGO activists. Perhaps this was the first time that they used it against an NGO activist for ‘publishing’ a 30-page memorandum.

I think the government has found a way to criminalise anyone who brings up an issue. The act of ‘publication’ came in when I handed the memorandum to the journalist from the New Straits Times. The handing over was considered as publishing. The journalist was not charged - the one who wrote the article was charged.

In 1996, the government was willing to criminalise activists with the Printing Press and Publications Act and the Sedition Act.

What lessons did you learn from the ordeal?

Perseverance - it’s not to compromise on human rights at all, and that truth can prevail.

But the acquittal for me does not mean that the conditions at the detention camps have changed, and that is one major disappointment. It was on a technical matter that the appeal (was allowed).

In that context, it’s only a victory in terms of my freedom - but it’s not a victory in terms of the government’s accountability.

If it was on state accountability, then the conditions would change. But Tenaganita’s recent book ‘The Revolving Door’ revealed that the conditions in the detention camps have not changed.

The abuse, particularly sexual abuse, torture, is still very entrenched. Corruption still exists. The sale of refugees by enforcement agencies, also from the testimonies, is quite clear. That struggle will continue for us.

So despite the past 13 years, you don’t think the government has improved the conditions at the detention camps?

Not really. There have been very small efforts. Once, the Ministry of Health has made attempts to get doctors into the detention camps. Also, they’re not having the same people staying in the detention centres as many are removed to the prisons, they serve their time there, and then they are deported. So you do not have many staying in the detention centres (for years), which was among the causes for the deaths.

Then there was this effort to get the prison authorities to take over the detention centres. It looks as though it didn’t work because it has gone back to the immigration authorities together with (civilian volunteer corps) Rela - which is a major blunder because Rela men have no training and they do not know how to manage a detention facility.

We have taken a number of steps backward, rather than forward.

Are the deaths still occurring?

There are less reports of that. But all the other incidences - the abuses, the diseases, the torture - are still there.

DPP Shamsul said that the government’s decision to drop the appeal was made by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and suggested that you should thank him for it.

I’m not happy with that comment. The prosecutor revealed that it was the decision of the attorney-general not to oppose the appeal. That shows us where the powers are and that ultimately, it's the prosecution who decides and not the judge.

I think that's the problem in the system, in the judiciary. That's why I'm not very happy when it came to the acquittal. It didn't speak from the aspect of justice or what I stood for. It didn't punish the Printing Presses and Publications Act... You can see that the power behind (the justice system) is the attorney-general. That is worrying.

They’re saying you should be thankful to the government for not proceeding with the case.

Why should I be thankful to the government? I should not have been charged in the first place. The government went into a state of denial. It didn't take responsibility for what happened. No way would I be grateful to the government because I lost 13 years of my life for nothing.

Justice is not done simply because of my acquittal. Justice can only be done when remedies are made to what I stood for, the contents of the memorandum, to freedom of expression being upheld in this country, when human rights defenders are protected.

Only when all those things are increased, then there's meaning to the acquittal. It’s not a favour that I look for.

What restrictions did you face during the trial?

My passport was held by the court, and each time I seek to leave the country, I have to go back to the court and apply, I have to use the services of a lawyer to argue out the case and get my passport.

Once, to go to an FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) conference in Beijing, my application was rejected. I had to appeal to the High Court. They said I could go, but on conditions that I report to the Malaysian embassy when I arrived, and that I could not ‘tarnish the image of the nation’, whatever that meant. I had to come back and inform them of my return, and I had return the passport immediately.

My children grew up with their mother having to go to court so many days. There were 450 days of court trial, as well as the likelihood of one year in prison. It affected fundraising (for Tenaganita) because I was seen as criminal. I faced restrictions in traveling because I was categorised as a criminal.

I could not stand for elections, which denied my whole political career. Now, my age has caught up with me - I missed two elections because case dragged on.

Some would say that we have a lot of problems in Malaysia. Why should migrant workers be a cause for your concern? Why would you put your whole life into this particular issue?

Migrants are human beings. They have the same rights as all of us. They are here for the good life we have and we have a responsibility to protect them while they are in our country. We are accountable for what we do to them. Without them, we would not have the same economic growth we are enjoying today with the kind of cheap labour they are used for.

Some of them go through the same kind of servitude and slavery that is supposedly banished from this country. We cannot compromise on human rights. Human rights is universal and indivisible. If I’m in another country, I would expect the people there to protect me. If we cannot protect migrants, then we have no rights to have migrants here at all.

What do you advise the government and Malaysians who are treating migrant workers badly?

We want to enjoy everything cheap and we want to keep prices low, and so we are happy when that is done through forced labour - their passports are held by the employers, their work permits are not renewed, they cannot leave their place of work or else they would be arrested by Immigration enforcement personnel, or Rela - but that’s fine as long as our prices are low, as long as our economy is growing,

(Malaysians tolerate) human rights violations, and I think that is fundamentally wrong and that is wrong to have such consumption patterns.

Today, it’s the migrant workers. If we don’t make the government of the day accountable for what they do (to them) now, tomorrow it will be us. We are already seeing that happening in the kind of arrests being done, the kind of labour exploitation, how the government does not have a position when our own workers are being retrenched and displaced because we can get labour cheaply. That is what is happening today.

When we have a government that is not accountable, they will create conditions where we will not be able to ask for accountability. We create a system that is oppressive, repressive and where we find that we cannot question the government of the day, their authority and what they say is supreme. That is the sorry state of affairs if we do not take care of how migrants are treated.

It is very similar to how the British colonialists used migrant labour in the plantations as cheap labour. Today, we are reacting because as descendants of those migrants who were marginalised, we have that consciousness that we cannot remain marginalised.

History is repeating itself. I am a product of that, I know what my parents went through. If we do not respond, our children will also suffer at the hands of the same oppressive government.

What are your immediate political plans?

I’m a member of PKR supreme council but I want to be part of the whole change process, and if I have the opportunity, I want to stand for elections and be a representative of the people. It’s important that I have the opportunity to be a member of parliament, to be a voice for the communities that I have been working with.

I need to spend more time at the grassroots level, and in some of the communities I’ve been working with. I also want to contribute towards strengthening the framework for the understanding of human rights. In Pakatan (Rakyat)’s agenda, how do you develop a leadership that will articulate that framework as part of the agenda for change.

There are also issues that affect gender, the interpretation and understanding of religion and faith.

Some have noted that PKR itself, however, does not seem to have come out clearly on free trade agreements and the possible effects on migrant as well as local workers.

Very recently, there was an initiative to set up a parliamentary labour and human trafficking caucus. That is an indicator of our seriousness on the issues. Human trafficking as a form of labour has not been addressed effectively. All Pakatan Rakyat MPs need to be sensitised to these issues.

Furthermore, among the five things Pakatan has promised is minimum wage for all. We do not differentiate between locals and migrants. When the minimum wage is the same, there’s no dynamic of preferring foreign workers over locals.

The current government of the day has not moved very strongly into setting up and developing a comprehensive labour policy. That’s why there’s ad hocism in recruitment, labour. Pakatan has to come up with a labour policy.

However, I think we can be definitely stronger where the FTA (free trade agreement) is concerned. A clear policy hasn’t happened as yet. I agree that we do not have a very clear policy, but we are moving into that.

In hindsight, is there anything you would change?

Maybe strategy-wise. But continuing to voice out for communities, that would only be stronger.

Any regrets?

No regrets. In spite of it all, Tenaganita has grown in recognition, recognition has grown for our community work, and there is also global recognition for what we stood for. Positive developments have come out the court case.

13 years lost ... there's no room for gratitude

Migrant workers activist Irene Fernandez finds no reason to be grateful to Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail for deciding against prolonging her 13-year court battle.

According to the 62-year-old mother of three, she should not have been charged in the first place for exposing the alleged human rights violations at immigration detention centres.

Instead of getting to the bottom of the allegations and rectifying them, she lamented that the government sought to punish her and other whistleblowers.

"Why should I be thankful to the government. I should not have been charged in the first place?" she said during an interview with Malaysiakini today."

The government went into a state of denial. It didn't take responsibility for what happened. No way would I be grateful to the government because I lost 13 years of my life for nothing," added the executive director of foreign workers' rights group, Tenaganita

Labels:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

让孩子看到明天

认识我的朋友都知道 -- 一直以来虽然很多课题我都很关心,但是我的心一直比较关心孩子、青少年。

上个星期,我到联合国难民署,辅导了一位才10岁,很可爱的难民小女孩。他们将她指定转介给我,因为她被性侵犯。

见了她之后,我的心情一直没有办法平复 -- 很难过。很好笑不是吗?我从事助人工作那么多年,找就练到刀枪不入了,不是吗?

我认识的孩子们 --- 曾经在我的生命中出现过的孩子们 -- 你们还好吗?

让你们听一些与孩子有关的歌和影片 ---

饥饿30主题曲2007


为明天-孩有明天


新加坡的影片:孩有明天


有一段日子,我每天都约230睡,因为要看NTV7的新加坡剧。孩有明天,2003年的剧,陪伴了我很多个夜晚。一个关于生命和助人工作的剧,一个关于孩子、希望的剧。

孩子们,我有限的生命里,我没有办法可以为你们多做什么,我只希望你们知道 -- 无论发生过什么事情,无论你来自怎么样的家庭背景,我们有资格、有权力看到明天的彩虹,只要你们不放弃、只要你们相信希望。

Labels:

我们都没有放弃希望

以前,我还没有到妇女援助中心工作的时候,“贩卖人口”对于我来说是很遥远的事情。

虽然,我读中学的时候,我认识的一些朋友“失踪”了,听说是被“姑爷仔”不知道带到什么地方去了。

贩卖人口 -- 对我来说,是在电视节目才可以看到的片段。

在妇女援助中心工作的这些日子,处理过不少贩卖人口的案例,出席过几个跨国的会议,对于这样灭绝人性的人口贩卖贩子,我有很深的“恨”。

有一个孩子在我们的中心超过了一年。从开始的一句话都不说,到现在华语、英语、马来语都可以拿来和人对话、甚至吵架,我很清楚,对于她,我有很深的感情。因此,我很努力的想要帮助她。

由于这个案子涉及3个不同的国家,在加上缅甸这样的国家,对于少数民族的援助真的少得可怜,更因为她来马来西亚的时候年纪很小,对于很多的事情完全没有概念,我们用了很多的事情来寻找她在缅甸的家人。

中间发生过一些事情,让我很难过 --- 但是却因此,我们得到了缅甸宣明会的帮助 ---- 让事情有了转机。

我们的电邮来来往往 --- 最高的记录一天40多封,跨越4个国家 --- 为让这个孩子回家,为找她的家人努力。

上个星期,我收到的他们的电邮,他们找到她的家人了 --- 原来她在15年前就失踪了,当她的父母亲知道她还在好好的这个世界上,他们都很惊讶。

15年了 --- 天啊。15年可以发生的事情真的太多、太多了。原来那么久,我本来还以为可能是6、7年。

那么小的孩子15年这样的被人卖来卖去,那么小的孩子被人口贩子剥削了她们的童真和亲情 ---

只要想到这里,我的心就有被撕裂的痛楚,尤其是面对这个孩子始终如一的笑容(可能有些朋友会开始说我不够专业、不够理性了)

回想10月的时候,当我们的原定计划失败,我的难过 --- 到今天我们终于找到她的家人,我们可以让她回家了。这天堂地狱的差别何其大 ---

回家的路,不容易 -- 尤其是缅甸这样的地方。我们必须很小心确保她安全回家,这又需要两个月吧!

但是,我从来没有放弃过希望,而我相信他们的重逢就在不久的未来。

真的很感激几个不同国家的非政府组织,我们从来没有见过面,但是我们都为同一个目标而努力。

这就是我们仍然坚持我们的岗位的原因吧!笨吗?也许 ----

Labels: ,

请帮助生命线

亲爱的朋友们,马来西亚生命线现有的资金只够让我们活6个月了。

你们可能很奇怪,为什么同样是6个月,但是为什么我会在此呼吁大家帮助生命线,而不是与我的生活息息相关的工作单位。

因为,相比之下,愿意捐钱给生命线的朋友少太多、太多了。

生命线是我第2个家,是第一个让我有归属感的地方。

我1997年加入生命线第六届辅导义工培训,到今天我已经加入生命线10年了。我短暂的生命,就有三分之一和这个组织密不可分。这个组织让我更了解生命,了解助人这样的工作,亦造就了今天的我。没有生命线这个组织,就没有今天的王妤娴。

我们不是第1次面临这样的危机。记得我刚加入生命线的时候,我们亦面对同样的危机,当年我们做了很多的活动,希望让生命线“找”一点钱。现在,我们又面对这样的危机 ---

马来西亚这样的国土,民办的辅导机构很苦,尤其如果这些中心并没有宗教组织的Back-up。我们的国家不像台湾等国家,可以获得国家的辅助。虽然我坚持我们这样的机构在心理卫生、心理健康这一个环节,有小小的贡献。

在这个小小的空间,我们遇过很多生命 -- 有些是我们的义工、有些是我们的学员,更多的是曾经上过我们成长团体、生活营的朋友,我们的案主。我们彼此照耀了彼此的生命,我们的生命因为有他们而更丰富。

如果我们没有办法找到钱,我们的空间就会消失,只要我一想到这里,我就很心痛。

我知道这里有很多常来的朋友,而你们都看过我对于生命线的活动、记录分享。

我恳求你们,不要让生命线这样的组织消失。

请你们帮助生命线,让生命线可以帮助更多的朋友。

你们可以做的事情

成为生命线救吾基金的赞助人 --- 一年赞助生命线95令吉

如果你们愿意,请电邮wong.suzane@gmail.com ,我会将相关资料传给你们。

谢谢你们

Labels:

Monday, November 17, 2008

生活还是一样过

好久没有在部落格上新的文章(之前那个关于漫画的,还是朋友帮我上的)。

关于之前的马华党选,到前前马华总会长那让人看了吐血的“精力过渡旺盛论”到一推“鸟”事 --- 为了不让我这个部落充满怨气,我看漫画去了。

本南族
两个星期前,我们的总警长在砂拉越猫城说,两名本南(Penan)族的性侵害受害者报了案,现在人在吉隆坡,他们知道哪一个非政府组织收留他们,说什么这些非政府组织不愿意配合,让警察的调查很幸苦。又说什么没有实质的证据云云。超级很不爽 --- 我对我的同事说“他们在说我们呢”我同事理都不理,笑骂由他去。

提到证据,如果不是因为在Baram官官相护、警察都是伐木大鳄的“马仔”让当事人恐惧万分,需要等到现在才报案吗?我们常说警察的调查是以保护当事人为出发点的。可是为什么在所谓High Profile的案子,反而是保护相关的利益集团呢?

是啊。在一些非政府的压力之下,妇女发展部成立了行动小组,而人权委员会积极的调查。但是我不明白的是,这个行动小组的行程只限于和族长见面。没有见到其他的相关女孩,只见族长,这样的见面,可以得到什么真相?

“某人”知道我们的组织在这件事情的参与度,问过我,怎么没有看到你们带她们开记者招待会。我一“剑”就射过去,你以为我们想政治人物一样,只会“消费”这些当事人吗?

说的时候,我很凶啦。我知道他只是好奇问一问。但是我就是讨厌那些动不动只要有人去服务中心投报就开记者会的政治人物啦,尤其超级讨厌那个姓张的。

Tomboy Fatwa
马来西亚回教裁决理事会(Majlis Fatwa)针对女性男性化的行为做出了裁决,禁止一切这样的行为,表示这样的行为是Haram的。因为对于回教的事宜,我了解的并不多,我又不是回教徒,好像真的没有什么资格评论。但是,我就是很好奇,男性化的行为到底对我们的社会有什么伤害?这样的伤害会比一般刑事案、政治人物的贪污来得更大吗?

今天在妇女候选人运动的e-group看到很多某某人表示,叫那些非回教徒的组织不要对这样的事情表达看法,还表示会对付这样的组织 -- 好厉害啊。

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Don't challenge Fatwa - Zahid said to Non Muslim NGOsMinister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today told non-Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not to challenge the National Fatwa Council's credibility.

He said it was unfair to challenge or dispute a fatwa issued by the council purely on logic because it could create confusion among the people.

The issue of "pengkid" (tomboyism) for example had become a social problem when the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia received complaints and on that ground, the Fatwa Council felt it was necessary to issue a fatwa on it, he said.

"The problem of a girl running away with a boy can be solved using the law but what about a girl running away with a girl who looks like a boy?" he told reporters here.

Zahid said if the NGOs were confused or wanted further explanations on the background of a fatwa, he was willing to organise a forum.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) --
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan today warned certain non-Muslim non-government organisations (NGOs) to stop challenging the National Fatwa Council's ruling that tomboyism is "haram".

He said such action could affect national security and trigger retaliation among Muslims."I'm warning them and will take stern action as it involves national security," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at a seminar on Empowering Justice in Syariah Courts at the International Islamic University Malaysia, here today.Musa said the recent street demonstration organised by non-Muslims' NGOs on the ruling was uncalled for as it could trigger fights."

This proves that they have no respect for other religion because the fatwa was issued for Muslims. Why do they have to be the one to demonstrate?" he said.

Last week, two non-Muslims NGOs -- Katagender and Food-not-Bombs -- staged a protest against the National Fatwa Council's ruling that tomboyism, where a girl behaves or dresses in boyish manner, is forbidden in Islam.-- BERNAMA



妇女援助中心面临财务危机
很多朋友因为妇女援助中心很有钱 -- 其实我们的资金只够我们活6个月了。因此,我们员工的薪水已经少了很多巴仙,因为没有钱。

有人问,妇女发展部没有给你们钱吗?有啊。她们的钱只够我们中心少过10%的开销 --- 可是我们中心很多案子都是由福利部转过来的(虽然他们一直说他们在很多地方有庇护所)。。

我想我真的需要多接一些课程,找外快去了。。。

Labels:

Thursday, November 13, 2008

爬漫画的日子

最近看了几套漫画~

好逑双物语-H2 - 热血棒球漫画,穿插其间的爱情故事,一段擦肩而过的年少情.....



虹色辣椒 - 讲述一个未来世界的故事,七个同父异母的兄弟一起生活,一起冒险的故事...... 一个剑客兼画家,一个相声家,一个和尚,一个科学少年,一个救火员,一个忍者小孩,一个照顾大家脾气很倔强的女孩,会擦出怎样的火花?