Burmese Refugees in Malaysia ( A photography exhibition )

Burmese Refugees in Malaysia
A photography exhibition



You are cordially invited to
No Refuge Exhibition Opening
Thu 15 Oct, 2009, 8pm
Officiated by YB Charles Santiago, MP for Klang, who will also launch a petition campaign to get the Malaysian Government to recognise refugees and to sign the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Photo by Simon Wheatley

Thu 15 - Sun 25 Oct, 2009
Presented by SUARAM & The Annexe Gallery
Featuring works by Greg Constantine (USA), Halim Berbar (France), Rahman Roslan (Malaysia), Simon Wheatley (UK) & Zhang Wubin (Singapore)

The images of NO REFUGE are photojournalistic documents of the living conditions of a people who are forced to flee to our hospitable country, but have yet to find refuge or hope here.


When one complains about human rights abuses in Malaysia, many Malaysians like to claim that at least we are better off than Burma. That is however not true for Burmese refugees in Malaysia. They may have escaped the horrors of living under the military rule of the junta in Burma, but here in Malaysia they live a life of fear all over again. As Malaysia is not a signatory of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Burmese refugees do not have rights in this country. Because of this, they cannot get work (out of desperation, many risk their lives accepting dangerous jobs at construction sites - and many die on these jobs), they have no access to healthcare (many also perish from trying to survive in unhygienic and rough conditions), their children have no access to education, and they are subject to all sorts of inhumane abuses, both by the authorities and other Malaysians.

Forced to hide in crammed apartments or makeshift encampments in forests, the refugees live in constant fear of being detained by the Malaysian police, immigration officers and RELA volunteers. When caught, they are often abused, extorted for money, or sent to overcrowded and unhygienic detention centres. Sometimes they are even sold to human traffickers for ransom or as slave labour or prostitutes. As the deplorable situation of Burmese refugees in Malaysia gains international attention, it’s high time for us to examine the human suffering we are causing.

Parts of the proceeds of the sale of the photographs will be channeled to SUARAM's campaign to advocate for the rights of refugees.

Photograph by Greg Constantine. This 38-year-old woman fled from Burma and has been living in Malaysia for several years. She was arrested during a RELA raid in Kuala Lumpur in 2006. She spent months in Malaysian jails and detention centers. While incarcerated she became ill but was denied medical care. Eventually, she was taken to the Thai border and deported into the arms of human traffickers. After paying 1500 Malaysian Ringgit to an agent in Thailand, she was smuggled back into Malaysia.

Talk by Photographers and Activists
Sun 18 Oct, 3pm

Come hear the stories, as witnessed and shared by those who document and work with Burmese refugees, of how these already downtrodden peoples are being treated in our country. As one hears the horrific stories of abuse, it is easy to feel ashamed to be Malaysian. But let us also be inspired by acts of compassion and courage. Let's figure out how we can help those who need our help.





Photograph by Halim Berbar. Due to the ordeal of escaping Burma and living as a refugee in Malaysia, the man in this picture fell into a depression and eventually took his own life.