Kuala Lumpur
Ms. Lal Eng Par, an ethnic Chin refugee from Myanmar who is pregnant for 6 months was arrested by controversial Malaysia RELA on 28 / Feb / 2008 while going to vegetable market in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur and directly sent her to Lenggeng Immigration Camp. Ms. Lal Eng Par is a UNHCR recognized refugee who stayed with her husband Mr. Khua Kim Thang in Malaysia although their four children are still left in Myanmar. Mr. Khua Kim Thang himself approached Chin Refugee Centre and reported about his wife arrest. CRC then sent fax to UNHCR regarding Ms. Lal Eng Par arrest and request for urgent intervention.
Since general election in Malaysia is due on March 08, 2008 the government conducted widespread raids on suspected foreign illegal immigrants. The government deaf-ear on the most controversial RELA corps authorised to make widespread raids on foreign illegal immigrants in Malaysia is a subject of heating debate in Malaysia. On January 15, 2008 immigration department took detention duty together with RELA from prison department. Amid call by several lawyers from Bar Council to disband RELA in Malaysia, the government not only listen to the call from lawyers but instead plans to expand more RELA role in law enforcement field.
UN Refugee agency in Malaysia is not successful in convincing the government regarding refugees who got arrested as illegal immigrants in Malaysia. Only the Chin refugees who got detained now in several immigration detention camps are more than 700 including women and several children. The worsening political situation in Myanmar under military government is a factor that forced hundred of Burmese fugitives every to neighboring countries especially ethnic Chin, Kachin,Karen, Shan and Mon where force labour and human portering are excessively used by Myanmar military soldiers against ethnic people.
No comments:
Post a Comment