CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION; TIME TO APPEAL STATE TO ACT AND SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER / JAPANESE EMBASSY

& ASAHI KOSEI Dear Friends, Several court hearings in the USD 3.2 million defamation case against human rights defender and activist Charles Hector by Asahi kosei have taken place in the last 5 months, which was filed on 14/2/2011 and is now fixed for full trial on 24, 25 and 26 August 2011. In addition to the various petitions against the company 1and its buyers, SUARAM,Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Forum-Asia ,OMCT World Organisation Against Torture, FIDH, Human Rights Watch, Article 19 ,Front line and many other civil society groups issued public statements . The European Union have attending and monitoring the legal proceedings so far. Representatives of the Norwegian, Royal Belgium and Danish embassies in Malaysia have also been present at hearings. 31 MP signs Early Day motion 1800 in UK Parliament on the case of Human Rights Defender Mr. Charles Hector, and Note that workers complaints has not yet been resolved by any authorities despite the fact that the workers did lodge their complains to the Labour Department and the National Human Rights Commissions since February 2011. Less than 3 weeks to go for full trail, but Asahi Kosei still refuses to drop the case and none of the companies involved has done the right thing. On 12/2/2011, Charles Hector sent a letter together with the public statement issued by 77 organizations concerns on this case, and still no response from the Japanese government. We are now CALLING FOR GLOBAL WEEK ACTION from August 15-19 2011 for trade unions, migrant associations, Burma support groups , workers /human rights and campaign organizations and justice loving people to seek a meeting with Japanese embassies in your country to raise the concerns and request them to do everything possible to get Asahi Kosei to immediately withdraws the lawsuit against Mr. Charles Hector, and to ensure the immediate reinstatement, with full rights and benefits, to all the affected Burmese workers. 5 workers have not been taken back to work at the Asahi Kosei factory since February. Please find enclosed a proposed letter to be send to the Japanese embassy seeking a meeting. Please do adapt or make changes accordingly. Attached also a Background of alleged violations at Asahi Kosei and retaliatory lawsuit.

http://goodelectronics.org/urgent-appeals/hitachi, https://www.change.org/petitions/ford-chrysler-and-sony-dont-buy-from-factories-that-fight-against-human-rights, http://www.thepetitionsite.com/319/--if-gte-mso-9xml-wworddocument-wviewnormalwview-wzoom0wzoom-wtrackmoveswtrackformatting/

Do lets us know soonest if you could join the global action and please send us a copy of letter you sent to Japanese embassy, as well as information about the outcome and photos of meeting , would be great if you could also get media attentions . Full trial is fixed now for 24, 25 and 26 August and lets work together again to bring the pressure to Asahi Kosei to drop the case against Human Rights Defender Charles Hector and ensure all affected workers get justice! In solidarity, In Dedefence of Charles Hector campaign team To contact us please send email to hrdef.chector@gmail.com and visit http://indefenceofcharleshector.blogspot.com/