Chin Refugees Continue to Flee Harsh Conditions in Burma

Hard economic times and human rights abuses in Burma’s Chin State continue to cause ethnic Chin to leave for foreign countries. Some become migrant workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and some lose their lives during the journey.

The discovery of 22 corpses, mostly believed to be Chin refugees, floating in the Andaman Sea off Thailand’s west coast is recent confirmation of the desire of Chin people to seek a better life in a neighboring country.

The original group, believed to have numbered up to 40 people, left from Kawthaung by boat, a local resident said. He said Chin and Rohingya often cross the border with the help of illegal brokers.

The Kawthaung resident said that in the past, Chin usually traveled at night, preferring to enter Malaysia, Thailand and India.

Besides the lack of jobs, Chin flee Burma because of the violation of the rights of women and children, forced labor, political suppression, racial discrimination and religious persecution, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization,

CHRO estimates that at least 60,000 Chin refugees live in India and 20,000 live in Malaysia. Human Rights Watch estimates 40,000 to 50,000 Chin live in Mizoram, India.

Tin Maung Shwe, an executive committee member of the Chin Refugee Centre, said, “People don’t get full human rights in Burma. So, many people want to leave for the countries which have full human rights.”

“The economy is also a main reason." he said. "People just earn enough money for daily survival. Some say that they have no jobs in Burma.”

Despite arriving in a neighboring country, harassment and human rights abuses can continue, he said. Many refugees encounter new problems and dangers.

“The main harassment is the ongoing arbitrary detention,” said Tin Maung Shwe. “When Malaysia’s authorities launch a crackdown on migrants, they even arrest people who are recognized as refugees by UNHCR. Pregnant women and children are also arrested, and some women have given birth to babies in prison.”

In Malaysia, it is difficult to work, learn or stay in the country even after being recognized as a refugee, the CRC says.

In spite of the difficulties, many Chin say conditions are still better than in Burma, said Lain H Sakhong, the general secretary of the Chin National League for Democracy and Ethnic Nationalities Council.

He said his former Chin teacher told him that in a foreign country at least they had food to eat, but in Chin State that was not true any more.

“It is very painful to hear those words,” he said. “If they [Chins] were able to live in their home peacefully, why would they flee?”