NOMINATION FOR INT'L WOMAN OF COURAGE - AMBIGA

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000942

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND G/IWI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KWMN KPAO MY
SUBJECT: NOMINATION FOR INT'L WOMAN OF COURAGE - AMBIGA
SREENEVASAN

REF: STATE 99729 - INSTRUCTIONS

Summary
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1. Embassy Kuala Lumpur nominates Ambiga Sreenevasan,
Malaysian Bar Council President, for the Woman of Courage
award for her active involvement in protecting human rights,
promoting the rights of woman, and promoting the rule of law
through judicial reform. Ambiga's efforts, such as the
unprecedented September 2007 "March for Justice," interfaith
forums to discuss religious conversion and the legal rights
of Muslim women, and her passionate defense of the rule of
law have drawn high praise from Malaysian civil society, as
well as death threats and intimidation from opponents.
Undoubtedly, Ambiga's efforts have significantly and
positively advanced fundamental principles of human rights
and democracy at a pivotal time in Malaysia, and in doing so
reflect key points in the President's Freedom Agenda. End
Summary.

Bar Council President; March for Justice
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2. Ambiga Sreenevasan an accomplished lawyer, became
President of Malaysian Bar Council in March 2007. Ambiga
emerged on the national scene at a pivotal time in the
country, as Malaysians increasingly voiced their expectations
for more transparent government and strengthened rule-of-law.
She used her position to turn the Bar Council into the most
significant, non-partisan voice for reforms to bolster
democracy and human rights. Ambiga's activism put the Bar
Council at the center of discussion of judicial reform, while
avoiding the partisan politics of the 2008 election year.

3. In September 2007, Ambiga organized the "March for
Justice" in the administrative capital of Putrajaya. More
than 2,000 lawyers participated in the march, unprecedented
over the past ten years, which called for judicial reform and
the investigation of a tape allegedly showing a key lawyer
apparently fixing judicial appointments and judges' case
assignments in 1998. Two months after the march and an
intense lobbying campaign led by Ambiga, the GOM announced
establishing a Royal Commission to investigate alleged
judicial manipulation. The commission found credible
evidence of manipulation by the former Prime Minister and
others, and offered corrective recommendations. Ambiga's
mobilization of the Bar Council was a key catalyst for the
GOM's move towards judicial reform.


4. In April, the Prime Minister chose to announce his
commitment to a number of reform measures, such as judicial
appointments committee and compensation for senior judges
dismissed by the former Prime Minister, at a special dinner
hosted by Ambiga and the Bar Council. Ambiga has
consistently supported the establishment of an Independent
Judicial Commission to ensure transparency in the promotion
and appointment of judges, along with other reforms. The
venue for the Prime Minister's announcement was a tribute to
Ambiga's promotion of such reforms, and the Bar Council's
critical role in such discussions. Her efforts to promote
the rule of law and judicial reform reflect President Bush's
Freedom Agenda objective to advocate for good government.

Speaking Out for Rule of Law
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5. Ambiga has consistently spoken out on key rule-of-law
issues that have arisen during a volatile period in Malaysian
politics. She raised questions and concerns over the conduct
of a criminal investigation into a prominent opposition
politician. Ambiga unambiguously condemned the politically
motivated arrests of two journalists and an opposition member
of parliament using the Internal Security Act, which is
otherwise intended for those posing serious threats to
national security. Likewise, she spoke out publicly against
the government's banning in October of HINDRAF, an activist
grouping promoting ethnic Indian rights whose five senior
leaders are held without trial under the Internal Security
Act.

Women's Rights
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6. Ambiga engaged the former Women's Minister on
inequalities within the Federal Constitution that undermined
the legal position of women in Malaysia. Her efforts
resulted in the Constitution's amendment and legislation
providing women's testimony in Shari'a court equal weight to
that provided by men. Ambiga's struggle continues as she
fights for the rights of women who converted to Islam because
of marriage. Currently, upon dissolution of the marriage,

regardless of the cause, women in most cases are not allowed
to return to their original religion if they so desire.

Religious Freedom
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7. In October, Ambiga organized an interfaith dialogue,
entitled "Conversion in Islam," with the intention to discuss
possible legal approaches to an issue that continues to
generate inter-ethnic tension and constitutional concerns.
The day prior to the event, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at
her house. On the day of the event, about 200-300 protesters
from religious groups, government-linked groups, and
conservative elements of the Opposition assembled in front of
the Bar Council. Some of the protesters, escorted by police,
marched into the Bar Council's building, where the forum was
held, forcing its cancellation. In the days following the
incident, hardliners called for her detention and she
received death threats. Nevertheless, Ambiga has persisted
in raising the need to address fundamental constitutional
questions related to religious freedom.

Nominee's Information
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8. Embassy contacted Ambiga Sreenevasa and obtained her
concurrence with the nomination. Required information is
provided below:

Name: Ambiga Sreenevasan
Job title/Association: President of the Malaysian Bar Council
Founder, Sreenevasan Advocates & Solicitor
DOB: November 13, 1956
COB: Malaysia
Citizenship: Malaysian
Address: Ground floor, Block B,
Complex Pejabat Damansara,
Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone: 603-2095-2122
Fax: 603-2095-1322
E-mail: ambig@sreenevasan.com
Passport number: A 1437 1069

KEITH