One day after Malaysia was named the world’s worst place for refugees, the police have tonight ensured that the country will continue to remain in the rogues’ gallery.
A team of 50 police officers broke up a gathering in Petaling Jaya to celebrate Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday at about 9pm and detained 16 people.
Those arrested are believed to be refugees from Burma who were at the birthday celebration to express their concern for their country’s democracy icon.
The Burmese military regime has kept Suu Kyi in detention for 13 of the past 19 years, and she is now on trial at Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison over a bizarre incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside home.
According to human rights group Suaram, the 16 were arrested even before the event kicked off.
“All those arrested now are detained in the Petaling Jaya district police station and denied access to lawyers. They might be moved to immigration,” said Suaram coordinator Temme Lee.
The 16 were taken to the Petaling Jaya police station where a crowd had gathered outside to press for their release.
The aborted celebration – which was to be held in an open area near Amcorp Mall in Taman Jaya – was jointly organised by Pakatan Rakyat Selangor and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Respect rights of refugees
Lee also urged the government to recognise the refugee status of those arrested.
There are fears that some of them could be sent to the immigration detention camp.
Malaysia is not a signatory of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and does not officially recognise those given refugee status by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
It is learnt that three of 16 had been released about 90 minutes after their arrest. Apparently the trio had documents to prove that they were refugees while the rest were still being detained at the police station.
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