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Pusat KOMAS contemplates and writes about the situation of race, ethnicity, interracial relations etc. in Malaysia.

KOMAS Press release on the court decision on Lena Hendry’s case

Kuala Lumpur, March 10: KOMAS is pleased with the decision of the magistrate court today to bring to close the 2 and half years persecution of Lena Hendry, a member of our organisation, for screening “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka” a documentary on war crimes in Sri Lanka. Magistrate Mohd. Rehan Mohd. Aris said that the Public Prosecutor had failed to prove a prima facie for the case and therefore the defense does not need to be called. In 2013, Lena Hendry was tasked to...

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Court sets Mar 10 to hear defence in Lena Hendry case

The STAR ONLINE Wednesday, 24 February 2016 | MYT 6:31 PM KUALA LUMPUR: The court has set Mar 10 for activist Lena Hendry to enter a defence against a charge of screening “No Fire Zone”, a documentary that had not been approved by the Censorship Board. Magistrate Mohd Rehan Mohd Aris said on Wednesday he would deliver a verdict after going through the submissions by the prosecution and defence. Lawyer New Sin Yew, who acted for Hendry, said the activist was entitled to an acquittal, as the...

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Next Trial Dates

4 days of trial have ended with 7 witnesses called from the persecution side. The trial will continue on the 11th of February 2016 with the last prosecution witness at 9am Majistret Court 6 2nd Floor, Left Wing Duta Court Complex, Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur.

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Lena hits out at gov’t over ‘killing fields’ film

Community Communication Centre (Komas) programme coordinator Lena Hendry has hit out at the government for violating her fundamental rights by prosecuting her over a Sri Lanka genocide documentary filmed two years ago. "I think the case has gone on too long. Prosecuting me for screening a film is definitely against my freedom of expression," Lena said outside the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court. She was charged with screening the documentary without the approval of the Film Censorship Board....

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Open Letter: Malaysia: Drop charges against Lena Hendry

Dear Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali, We write to you as organisations that are deeply concerned by the decision of the Malaysian authorities to prosecute Lena Hendry for her involvement in the screening of the award-winning human rights documentary, “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka,” in Kuala Lumpur on July 9, 2013. The charges against her violate Malaysia’s obligations to respect the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, notably to receive and impart information. We...

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Drop Charges against Lena Hendry: Arbitrary control of screenings of films impedes freedom of information and expression.

Kuala Lumpur, December 14, 2015:  Today, Lena Hendry,  our colleague and a staff of KOMAS, is undergoing trial in the criminal court for allegedly breaking the law by screening NO FIRE ZONE: THE KILLING FIELDS OF SRI LANKA, a human rights documentary film about war crimes committed during the civil war in Sri Lanka. She is the first human rights activist in Malaysia to be charged under section 6(1) and (2)of the Film Censorship Act which we feel has been arbitrarily used and politically...

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Malaysia urged to free activist arrested over Lankan film

Nearly 100 leading film-makers, writers, artists and lawyers from around the world have signed an open letter calling on the Malaysian government to drop charges against a human rights activist who is due to go on trial on Monday 14 December and could face up to three years in jail for screening a film on the war in Sri Lanka. Lena Hendry, of the Malaysian human rights NGO Pusat KOMAS, has been charged under Malaysia’s draconian censorship laws for screening the award-winning documentary No...

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Press Release HRW – Malaysia: Drop Dubious Case Against Rights Activist

(Bangkok) – Malaysian authorities should immediately drop charges under the Film Censorship Act against rights activist Lena Hendry, Human Rights Watch and 11 Malaysian and international human rights organizations said today in letters to Malaysia’s prime minister and attorney general. Hendry’s case is slated to go to trial on December 14, 2015. The Malaysian government should also end censorship of films by repealing provisions of the law that allow unnecessary and arbitrary government...

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Trial Dates

Lena Hendry's Trial dates have been set on the 14th - 15th of December and 6th - 8th of January.

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