Thomas Fann
Thomas Fann is part of the Citizen Action Group On Enforced Disappearance (CAGED), a coalition of 48 civil society groups which was formed at the beginning of May 2017 to monitor cases of enforced disappearances and assist families of missing victims. He is the chairperson of Engage, a Malaysian organisation working to promote democracy, human rights and citizen participation. He is also a steering committee member of anti-corruption movement Bersih and one of CAGED’s spokespersons.
Human rights defenders in Malaysia face judicial harassment, arbitrary arrest, threats, intimidation and smear campaigns. HRDs active against corruption, calling for electoral reform and free and fair election are particularly vulnerable. HRDs who work in the eastern part of Malaysia and on the island of Borneo on indigenous rights face travel bans to the Peninsula and lack access to international support. As of June 2015, the Malaysian government has yet to accept requests made in 2002 and 2010 by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to visit the country.
