14.03.2007
Leave UNHCR-recognised refugees be
Suaram is increasingly concerned that - in the last few weeks the Malaysian government - has intensified crackdowns on 'illegal immigrants', which have seen the indiscriminate arrest and detention of refugees and asylum seekers, despite that their refugees status having been determined or are being considered by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). These asylum seekers have come to Malaysia for no other reason than to flee the political persecution in their home countries
In a continuing campaign against illegal immigrants late last week, a joint force of Malaysian immigration and Rela (People's Volunteer Corps) personnel conducted a predawn raid at Kajang's Bukit Angkit area in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The round-up, which began at around 2am ended with the arrest of 50 ethnic Chins from Burma, including children, and 13 people who have been recognised by UNHCR as refugees.
On Jan 28, Rela volunteers and personnel from the Sepang Municipal Council raided a place in Kampung Sungai Merab, Dengkil and arrested 173 Chins. Among those arrested were 14 persons recognised as refugees by the UNHCR, 34 asylum seekers and seven persons who have been notified to appear for a Refugee Status Determination (RSD) before the UNHCR.
On Feb 2, a Rela raid at Wangsa Maju ended with the arrest of 41 persons including 10 people who have been recognised by the UNHCR. On Feb 5, another Rela raid at Jalan Samping ended with the arrest of 90 persons, including 45 who have UNHCR papers.
In a similar incident on Feb 25, Malaysian immigration assisted by Rela personnel raided a place in Putrajaya and arrested 15 Chins including four persons with UNHCR refugee status and five persons who have been granted Refugee Status Determination interviews with the UNHCR.
Suaram condemns the continuing acts of arrest and detention of refugees and asylum seekers, which have been more frequent since the beginning of 2007. Suaram also condemns the government's continued use of an untrained civilian vigilante corps - Rela - which has constantly shown utter disrespect for basic human rights and dignity in its conduct during operations against illegal immigrants.
We are concerned that the arrest and detention of asylum seekers and refugees seem to have become more common since Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad issued a public statement saying that Malaysia doesn't recognise the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and accused the UN agency of 'interfering' in law enforcement operations against illegal immigrants in the country.
Suaram would like to remind the government that despite not being a party to the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, Malaysia has certain obligations to respect the rights of people within its borders regardless of their legal status. As a member of the UN and the UN Human Rights Council, Malaysia is obligated to observe fundamental human rights, including the rights of those coming to find a safe haven in this country.
In fact, the public pledge made by the Malaysian government during its election to the United Nations Human Rights Council was to 'actively support the rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children and disabled'.
Clearly, asylum seekers and refugees fall under 'vulnerable groups' that are in dire need of support and assistance. Regretfully, Malaysia has not only refused to recognise refugees, but has gone further to detain refugee children and women and subject them to harsh detention conditions and punishment.
This is in stark contradiction to its pledge to the international community to protect women and children and is in breach of its international obligations under the Convention of the Child Rights (CRC) and the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) that it has signed and ratified.
We call on the Immigration Department to stop this form of indiscriminate arrest and detention of asylum seekers and refugees immediately before it puts Malaysia into further disrepute with the international community. We reiterate our call for the government to ratify the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and the 1990 Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families.
Yap Swee Seng , executive director, Suaram. Malaysia.
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Comments:
Peter Maung Ling said _
Shin ung news am shah ka ning poh law tu gui nei. Na mi hmat püi a phih kiak hno khai hlü te ka hmat tu phak ki noh phat tu hlä.
A friend of Chins said _
Can some one kindly translate this above comment so that we all could understand?
Your Comments here_
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