Interpol has been urged to provide updates on the request for a Red Notice against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown, that is sought by Bukit Aman.

In a letter by Londan-based human rights group Fair Trials, Interpol's secretary-general Jürgen Stock was also asked to explain the approached used to assess the Red Notice request.

Fair Trials said this in view that media reports suggest that the Malaysian police have met Stock to discuss the matter in Indonesia and that the Malaysian authorities were "confident" of Interpol's "cooperation".

"Fair Trials has noted Interpol's 'firm commitment to the rules set out in its constitution' and welcomed the recent steps taken to create a more transparent rules-based approach [...]

"Given this, I have no doubt that the (media reports) mentioned above has drawn inappropriate inferences," said Fair Trials.

Wrong impression

The group said that such news articles will create the wrong perception of Interpol and result in personal concern for the affected individuals.

"Any attempt to use Interpol's systems as a way of restricting the freedom of the media is, of course, a matter of grave concern.

"It is however particularly worrying that, in a case of that nature, the requesting country should refer to conversations with you as secretary-general (outside of Interpol's formal review processes) as enhancing the prospects of Interpol cooperating with a Red Notice request.

"It suggests that contacts and diplomacy play a more important part in Interpol's decision-making process than the rules," said Fair Trails.

Stock met inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar in Jakarta early this month.

The police have an arrest warrant out against Rewcastle Brown on charges of engaging in activities detrimental to Parliamentary democracy.