If there is one aspect that dominates my view of Irene Fernandez all that time that I had known her; it was her uncompromising commitment to truth and justice. She never compromised; she never retreated. Once she made her stand on issues based on truth and justice, she was unrelenting. Irene was certainly a great inspiration to me.
She started as an activist with the Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement and became the movement’s president in 1972. At that time, she focused on workers’ rights, trade union formation and the development of women leaders in the trade union movement.
In 1976 she joined the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and later in 1982 she became the executive secretary of the Selangor Consumers Association (SCA).
During her tenure with the consumer movement, Irene worked on consumer education, forming and organising consumer clubs in schools to teach children about basic consumer rights, safety and protection of the environment. She also began a consumer programme for rural women and was involved in the breast-feeding campaign and the boycott against Nestle.
From 1986, she actively led campaigns to stop violence against women. She set up and was actively involved in several NGOs to address issues of violence against women. The Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Harassment Code, and changes to the law related to rape were all result of these NGOs’ advocacy and hard work.
From 1992, Irene was the chair of the Pesticide Action Network, working for the elimination of pesticides and developing sustainable agriculture, which led to campaigns on health and against genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).
In 1991, Irene formed Tenaganita, which campaigns for the rights of foreign workers. Tenaganita provides legal services and conducts advocacy on behalf of migrant victims of abuse, trafficking victim, refugees and asylum seekers. In recognition of her tireless work and leadership, Human Rights Watch honoured Irene in 1996 with the human rights monitor award.
Tenaganita also runs a half-way house for sex workers with HIV and a number of other programmes relating to migrant and poor workers health, education, awareness and human rights.
Longest trial in Malaysian history
In 1995 Tenaganita released a report documenting beatings and sexual violence against detainees by prison guards and inadequate food and water in Malaysia’s immigration camps. Irene was arrested in March 1996 and charged with malicious publication of false news under the draconian Printing Presses and Publications Act, 1984. Her trial became the longest trial in Malaysian history.
In 2003, she was found guilty and sentenced to a year in prison. In 2005, she was still on bail pending appeal. Finally, in 2008, after 13 years of battle in court, she was acquitted.
For her courage and unrelenting commitment to help the marginalised, Irene has received several awards including the Right Livelihood Award in 2005; the Jonathan Mann Award in 2004; the International PEN Award in 2000; and the Amnesty International Award in 1998.
I have been involved with the consumer movement for more than 30 years. It has been a tough journey; and it seems to be getting even tougher. Irene, for me and for many leaders in the NGO movement not only in Malaysia but I believe also throughout the world, your unrelenting commitment to truth and justice and your great courage in standing for what you believe, is a great inspiration to all of us.
DR MARIMUTHU NADASON is president, Fomca.
