Concern over arrested Myanmarese

WE write to express concern over the arrest of 97 Burmese refugees in Penang and urge the government not to forcibly deport them to any country where their life may be in danger. We remind the government of its obligation to uphold the international customary law of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of people to places where they may face persecution or threat to their life or freedom.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) also urges the government to provide the arrested refugees free access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to enable their asylum claims to be processed. Upon verification of their asylum claims, they must be released into the official care of the UNHCR. We also remind the government that every person has the right to seek asylum in another country as stated in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

For the record, the 97 refugees were arrested on Oct 6 by Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in a joint operation near Pulau Bedong in Penang.

The said Burmese refugees fled refugee camps in Bangladesh in a five-day journey to reach Malaysia. Unfortunately, they were arrested by enforcement agencies of the local authority before they reached land in Pulau Betong. They are currently being detained (for further investigation) at the South West District Police Headquarters in Penang.

We strongly urge the government to ratify the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. Malaysia as a member of the UN Human Rights Council must take serious measures to promote and protect human rights, including that of refugees and asylum seekers.

Andika Abd Wahab
Refugee Coordinator
Suaram

Source : TheSundaily