Australian writer and academic, Murray Hunter, is facing criminal charges in Thailand for articles he published online criticising Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Malaysia is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is obligated under the ASEAN Charter to uphold human rights and freedoms, democracy, rule of law and good governance. Pursuing criminal defamation across borders contradicts those commitments.
PEN Centres around Australia have written a joint letter to Senator Penny Wong and the Australian Government urging the escalation of Murray’s case and the negotiation of his release. Read the letter.
penperth.com 