VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKL #0942/01 2980947
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240947Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1820

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 
------- 
 
¶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 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶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 
----------------------------- 
 
¶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 
-------------- 
 
¶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 
----------------- 
 
¶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 
--------------------- 
 
¶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