Senior lawyer Param Cumaraswamy who just ended his third three-year term tenure as a United Nations special rapporteur will receive prestigious honours from two London-based lawyers organisations for his dedication in upholding the principles of justice.

On Sept 30, the 62-year-old Param is set to become the first Malaysian to be made a honorary member of the Law Society. The society regulates and represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales.

At about the same time, the Inns of Court - which regulates all barristers in England and Wales - will also make Param an honorary bencher, only the fourth Malaysian to be given such a privilege.

Benchers are normally selected among the senior barristers and judges for their eminence and they are the governing bodies of the Inns.

The other three Malaysians in this esteemed list are two former Lord Presidents - the late Muhammad Suffian and Raja Azlan Shah (now Sultan of Perak) - and the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (photo).

Deserved reputation

These honours came just as Param stepped down from his position as the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, a post he held for nine years.

Param was first appointed as a Special Rapporteur for a three-year term in 1994. His final term ended in June this year.

"Mr Cumaraswamy's dedication to the principles of justice in his native Malaysia - and worldwide - had earned him a deserved reputation as a courageous defender of human rights," said Law Society president Peter Williamson today.

"In honouring him, the Law Society is echoing tributes from some of the world's foremost judges and academics," said Williamson.

"From Nepal to Nicaragua, he has worked tirelessly in the interests of justice all over the world."

Great honour

When contacted today Param said it was a great honour to be conferred these privileges.

"I accept these honours in all humility and on behalf of all the lawyers and judges worldwide who had paid the price of prosecution in fighting for judicial independence," he said.

As a special rapporteur, Param had intervened in more than 100 countries and reported to the UN Commission on Human Rights where judicial independence or the independence of lawyers were reported at risk.

Param began his law studies in London and was admitted as a barrister-at-law in 1966. He has practised in Kuala Lumpur since 1967.

He is a founding member of the Malaysian Bar Council Human Rights Committee and the Legal Aid Committee and was the chair of the Bar Council from 1986 to 1988. He is a private practitioner now.

Between 1985 and 1990, Param was subjected to considerable pressure, harassment and intimidation, including death threats, for his defence of human rights in Malaysia.

Defamation cases

In 1995, four defamation suits were brought against Param by a few key Malaysian personalities and corporations claiming a total of RM426 million. This was over an interview he gave to a London-based legal periodical in his capacity as UN Special Rapporteur. In the interview, he had commented on allegations of impropriety in the Malaysian judiciary.

The UN claimed immunity on his behalf under the Convention on the Immunities and Privileges of the United Nations. However, this was not recognised by the Malaysian courts.

After exhausting all his domestic avenues to have his UN immunity from legal process, the matter was taken to the International Court of Justice. It found Param was immune from legal process and directed Malaysia to honour its international obligations.

After further protracted hearings before the Malaysian courts, the civil suits were eventually withdrawn.