skip to main |
skip to sidebar
RSS Feeds
....Motto: "Voice for the voiceless,neglected and hidden"....
Chin refugee detainees in dilemma
10:11 AM
VOCR
28th October, 2009
Kula Lumpur, Malaysia
By Salai C C
According to confirm information, approximately 250 Chin and 300 Burmese detainees are still detained in Lenggeng immigration camp. On 10/10/09 one of Chin detainees in the camp formally known as Mr. Tei Khar Lian informed to Chin refugee committee office that the camp authorities are begging the money with detainees in order to meet with the UNHCR team.
“In previous visit of the UNHCR team to the camp, we did not need to pay the money to meet the UNHCR team. But now, the Burmese detainees are paying RM 1000 each to immigration officers in order to meet with the UNHCR team. So, we (Chin detainees) have been denied to meet with the UNHCR team because we are unavailable to pay. Even though we are formally holders of UNHCR card the camp authorities denied our claim to meet with UNHCR team” he said.
In the last couple months, the UNHCR team had released many refugee detainees from other detention facilities such as Langkap, Seminyih camp but no one has been released from Lenggeng camp after Mr. Duh Sang was released on 19/08/2009.
According to confirm information, approximately 250 Chin and 300 Burmese detainees are still detained in Lenggeng immigration camp. On 10/10/09 one of Chin detainees in the camp formally known as Mr. Tei Khar Lian informed to Chin refugee committee office that the camp authorities are begging the money with detainees in order to meet with the UNHCR team.
“In previous visit of the UNHCR team to the camp, we did not need to pay the money to meet the UNHCR team. But now, the Burmese detainees are paying RM 1000 each to immigration officers in order to meet with the UNHCR team. So, we (Chin detainees) have been denied to meet with the UNHCR team because we are unavailable to pay. Even though we are formally holders of UNHCR card the camp authorities denied our claim to meet with UNHCR team” he said.
In the last couple months, the UNHCR team had released many refugee detainees from other detention facilities such as Langkap, Seminyih camp but no one has been released from Lenggeng camp after Mr. Duh Sang was released on 19/08/2009.
Photo exhibition portrays horrors of Burmese refugees
12:08 PM
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/115282
Photo exhibition portrays horrors of Burmese refugees
Christine Chan
Oct 17, 09
9:07am
Images of refugees in deplorable living conditions, poignant facial expressions, and distraught children form the gist of the work of five international photojournalists who documented the lives of Burmeserefugees in Malaysia.
A rare exhibition titled 'No Refugee' depicting the conditions of refugees was launched yesterday at The Annexe Gallery in Kuala Lumpur's Central Market. The exhibition will last until the Oct 25.
“The work of Greg Constantine (USA), Halim Berbar (France), Rahman Roslan (Malaysia), Simon Wheatley (UK) and Zhang Wubin (Singapore) reveals the underside of the most marginalized people in Malaysia,” said Klang member of parliament, Charles Santiago.
In his speech when opening the event, he said that a report had been published by the US Department of State on trafficking activities in Malaysia, where refugees were sold at the Thai and Malaysia's border.
No refugee exhibition 151009-08.jpg“In the report, refugees who are now residing in the US, and who once lived in Malaysia, were interviewed and they have one thing in common. All of them have been sold,” he told a crowd of 60 people.
He also accused the government of being in denial on the issues of human trafficking.
Kicking them when down
klscah launch civil society award 191207 charles santiagoHowever, Santiago (right) credited the government for taking some action to arrest traffickers in the last couple of months.
Kicking them when down
klscah launch civil society award 191207 charles santiagoHowever, Santiago (right) credited the government for taking some action to arrest traffickers in the last couple of months.
“But this will not solve the problem because trafficking is a systemic collaboration of government officers and syndicates, therefore we need to fix this at the level of structure and enforcement,” he adds.
Arts programme director of The Annexe, Pang Khee Teik, in commenting on the trafficking and the harsh living conditions, said that this was akin to 'kicking them when they are down'.
“This is what Malaysias are doing to the refugees,” he said.
The audiences were also treated to a performance by two Burmese musicians.
Thiam Pui, a refugee from the Chin state sang about how much she misses her country and she was accompanied by Sang Kawn, another refugee from the Mon state who played the guitar.
“This is what Malaysias are doing to the refugees,” he said.
The audiences were also treated to a performance by two Burmese musicians.
Thiam Pui, a refugee from the Chin state sang about how much she misses her country and she was accompanied by Sang Kawn, another refugee from the Mon state who played the guitar.
No protection for refugees
Santiago also launched a nationwide petition campaign by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) entitled “Sign the Refugee Convention and Stop the Arrest, Detention and Deportation of Refugees”.
Suaram is expecting to collect at least 10,000 signatures from Malaysians by May 21, 2010 to be submitted to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
This is a move to ensure that refugees are recognized and given better access to livelihood and to encourage cooperation between the government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR).
Unfortunately, Malaysia is one of the few remaining countries that has ratified neither the 1951 Refugee Convention nor the 1967 Protocol and it has also failed to enact any legislation for the protection of refugees.
Refugees, adults and children alike, are instead treated as 'illegal immigrants' and are subjected to harsh penalties, detention and deportation under the Immigration Act.
They risk fines of up to RM10, 000 or jail terms of up to five years or both. They are also liable to be whipped up to six strokes of the cane.
They risk fines of up to RM10, 000 or jail terms of up to five years or both. They are also liable to be whipped up to six strokes of the cane.
Jungle colony worrying residents
11:43 PM
By LIM CHIA YING
The presence of a settlement of foreigners hidden in the jungles of Kepong hill, near Segambut, is causing much fear and concern among residents in the area.
The hill is a popular spot for joggers and trekkers, but deeper into it are wooden huts and houses sheltered by bushes and overgrown trees.
The presence of a settlement of foreigners hidden in the jungles of Kepong hill, near Segambut, is causing much fear and concern among residents in the area.
The hill is a popular spot for joggers and trekkers, but deeper into it are wooden huts and houses sheltered by bushes and overgrown trees.
Angus Ng, who lives in Taman Flora Impian housing area just a short distance down the foothill, said many residents and their families felt their safety was being threatened by the existence of the foreigners.
Our play area: This looks like a makeshift playground amid the wooden homes in one of the foreign colonies that the residents ventured into
“As we are a guarded community, our security personnel said these foreigners would come down from the hill in the wee hours of the morning. Even one of our security men was threatened and slashed,” said Ng, who is the Flora Impian action committee pro tem chairman.
“What we want is for the authorities to take action to demolish the settlement, and take the landowner to court if the squatters being harboured here are indeed illegals,” he said.
It is learnt that the hill also connects to various other residential townships including Sg Penchala, Desa ParkCity, Bukit Lanjan, Bukit Segambut, Sri Hartamas and Mont Kiara.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said from his own experience of climbing up the hill recently, he could hear chirping noises like that of birds before reaching the area, only to learn later that the sounds were made by humans. “The sounds are made by colony members to alert their own people that there are ‘outsiders’ like us coming in,” said Lim.
A resident said there were probably more than 50 wooden houses for this one colony, including a place of worship heavily guarded by dogs. We believe there are more entrenched deeper,” the resident said.
Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Zakaria Pagan said he would immediately check on the matter and take the necessary action.
“If these foreigners are involved in crime, we will take action. If they are illegals, we have to seek the assistance of the Immigration Department. But we are not the only ones responsible to book them as the City Hall and other authorities are involved, too,” he said.
Interview with Chin detainee detained in Kawhtaung
5:30 PM
VOCR
10 September, 2009
Kuala Lumpur
By Salai C C
Mr. Ni Cung (40) was arrested with others four Chin fellows on 15. 08. 2009 and detained for two months in Ayemyakantha township councilor office in Kawhtaung. In his detaining period, the authorities did not provide commodity and enough food. He was suspected as ceasefire arm group even though he has Burmese national identity card. After detaining at township councilor office in Kawhtaung, they broke the office wall and ran away to Malaysia for safety and he arrived at Malaysia on 6th September, 2009. .
VOCR: Could you tell me your name and which part of Chin state are you from?
Mr. Ni Cung (40) was arrested with others four Chin fellows on 15. 08. 2009 and detained for two months in Ayemyakantha township councilor office in Kawhtaung. In his detaining period, the authorities did not provide commodity and enough food. He was suspected as ceasefire arm group even though he has Burmese national identity card. After detaining at township councilor office in Kawhtaung, they broke the office wall and ran away to Malaysia for safety and he arrived at Malaysia on 6th September, 2009. .
VOCR: Could you tell me your name and which part of Chin state are you from?
NC: My name is Ni Cung. I am from Belhar village, Thantlang Township, northern part of Chin State.
VOCR: Where did the Myanmar Immigration arrested you? How long and where were you detained?
NC: I was arrested when our plane from Yangon landed at Kawhtaung airport and I was taken to Ayemyakantha township councilor office for further investigation. I had been detained for almost two months in that office.
VOCR: Where did the Myanmar Immigration arrested you? How long and where were you detained?
NC: I was arrested when our plane from Yangon landed at Kawhtaung airport and I was taken to Ayemyakantha township councilor office for further investigation. I had been detained for almost two months in that office.
VOCR: While in detention, did the immigration provide you commodity and enough food?
NC: No, absolutely not. They didn’t provide anything. They told us to buy food ourselves. If we begged them to buy us food, they scolded us and kicked us.
VOCR: If the authorities did not provide you food, how did you survive in your detention period and what actually did you eat?
NC: As we have no relatives in Kawhtaung to come and visit us, we bought food with our own money. Food also was very expensive that we could eat only one time per day.
VOCR: If you don’t have any relatives in Kawhtaung, to whom did the authorities inform that you are under arrest?
VOCR: If the authorities did not provide you food, how did you survive in your detention period and what actually did you eat?
NC: As we have no relatives in Kawhtaung to come and visit us, we bought food with our own money. Food also was very expensive that we could eat only one time per day.
VOCR: If you don’t have any relatives in Kawhtaung, to whom did the authorities inform that you are under arrest?
NC: I think that the authorities did not inform to anyone because we were isolated and were being suspected as (MNLA) Mon National Liberty Army which made ceasefire with the military regime recently.“Even though they recognized us as Chin ethnicity which also is shown on our Identity card, we were suspected and questioned like insurgent group”.
VOCR: You said that four Chin fellows also were arrested at the same time. Consequently, do you know where they were taken to and were detained? Do they have Burmese identity card?
NC: They also detained with me including seven years old child. We all have identity cards but the captain who questioned us denied our identity cards. In questioning room, the captain also said that our identity cards were invalid and lured us to show MNLA cards.
VOCR: In your detention period, did you see other ethnic minorities like Kachin, Shan etc. who were detained under such cases?
VOCR: You said that four Chin fellows also were arrested at the same time. Consequently, do you know where they were taken to and were detained? Do they have Burmese identity card?
NC: They also detained with me including seven years old child. We all have identity cards but the captain who questioned us denied our identity cards. In questioning room, the captain also said that our identity cards were invalid and lured us to show MNLA cards.
VOCR: In your detention period, did you see other ethnic minorities like Kachin, Shan etc. who were detained under such cases?
NC: Yes. Many other ethnics also were arrested but they detained for only two or three days. After three days, the authorities demanded them to pay 55,000 kyat for their release. If they could pay the demand, they were repatriated. But we were not demanded to pay money for our release. Even if we tried to explain that we were able to pay 55,000 kyat like other ethnic detainees, the authorities refused our claims.
VOCR: Can you explain me how did you escape?
VOCR: Can you explain me how did you escape?
NC: After we had been detained for almost two months, I explained all my friends that we would be detained for a long time since we were subjected as insurgent case. I also suggested them to find out the way to escape. One night, we broke the office wall and ran away to monastery which is located on the hill. The monks did not allow us to stay in the monastery. At that time, it was raining heavily but we stayed under the heavy rain because we got no place to take refuge. After two days in the forest around Kawhtuang, we headed our journey to Malaysia and arrived on 6th September, 2009.
VOCR: Thank you very much for giving us your time. May your dream come true!
NC: Same to you.
VOCR: Thank you very much for giving us your time. May your dream come true!
NC: Same to you.
NGO set up mobile clinic for refugees
5:02 PM
VOCR
06 September, 2009
Kuala Lumpur
By Salai C C
On 3rd and 4th of September, one of local NGOs called A Call to Service (ACTS) set up mobile clinic in Malacca and Muar where many refugees live. ACTS in one of local NGO and based in Kuala Lumpur and it provides medical treatment to both legal and illegal foreigners in Malaysia.
The mobile clinic was conducted by two doctors and some volunteer workers from ACTS main office.
On the first day, only 15 of Chin refugees attended in mobile clinic to receive medical treatment because they had difficulties for transportation, as they stay in different places. But on the second day, the clinic set up at Saint Peter Church the downtown in Malacca and more than 50 patients from different places attended including Vietnamese and Indonesians. On that day, five volunteer workers from CRC also joint as interpreters for Chin refugees patients. After the patients in Malacca had been finished examining their health and received medical treatment, the mobile clinic teams sifted to Muar, about 60 kilometers away from Malacca.
When the mobile clinic team arrived to Muar, the Emanuel Church in Muar hailed them. Besides, the church also was offered as a clinic. In Muar, only 15 Chin refugee patients and some Nepalese could attend it.
“Many refugees have been suffering from variety of diseases, such as Tuberculosis, Kidney problem, scratch and womb problem. This is reliable for the Chin refugees who stay out of Kuala Lumpur area as they could not approach hospital” one volunteer worker said.
Last month, the ACTS had already conducted mobile clinic for Chin refugees in Cameron Highland and we hope that would be continued it.
On 3rd and 4th of September, one of local NGOs called A Call to Service (ACTS) set up mobile clinic in Malacca and Muar where many refugees live. ACTS in one of local NGO and based in Kuala Lumpur and it provides medical treatment to both legal and illegal foreigners in Malaysia.
The mobile clinic was conducted by two doctors and some volunteer workers from ACTS main office.
On the first day, only 15 of Chin refugees attended in mobile clinic to receive medical treatment because they had difficulties for transportation, as they stay in different places. But on the second day, the clinic set up at Saint Peter Church the downtown in Malacca and more than 50 patients from different places attended including Vietnamese and Indonesians. On that day, five volunteer workers from CRC also joint as interpreters for Chin refugees patients. After the patients in Malacca had been finished examining their health and received medical treatment, the mobile clinic teams sifted to Muar, about 60 kilometers away from Malacca.
When the mobile clinic team arrived to Muar, the Emanuel Church in Muar hailed them. Besides, the church also was offered as a clinic. In Muar, only 15 Chin refugee patients and some Nepalese could attend it.
“Many refugees have been suffering from variety of diseases, such as Tuberculosis, Kidney problem, scratch and womb problem. This is reliable for the Chin refugees who stay out of Kuala Lumpur area as they could not approach hospital” one volunteer worker said.
Last month, the ACTS had already conducted mobile clinic for Chin refugees in Cameron Highland and we hope that would be continued it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)