Clinton To Test Myanmar's Readiness For Reforms

Enlarge Paul J. Richards /AFP/Getty Images Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Asia this week will include stops in Myanmar and South Korea.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sets off for Asia Monday, and part of her trip will see her as the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Myanmar – formerly known as Burma.

Secretary Clinton says she's going to Myanmar to test the waters to see how committed the country's new leader is to reforms. She'll also meet with Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is rejoining the political process in the country and who has been guiding U.S. policy, according to activist Aung Din.

"She has been in touch with U.S. authorities all the time," Din says. "U.S. policy right now is being guided by her [and] she's our key figure to unifying the country."

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent years in prison and under house arrest, has made it clear that she's ready to work now with Myanmar's new president, Thein Sein, who has begun to open up the country in recent months. Aung Din is not so sure.

"Even though I'm not very confident yet, I have to support it," he says.

Din is a former student activist who spent more than four years in jail before fleeing the country and starting up an advocacy group called U.S. Campaign for Burma. He backed the Obama administration's approach of maintaining sanctions while also trying to engage Myanmar's leaders. He calls Clinton's trip risky, but hopes she will deliver a tough message to the regime.

"I just wish the regime will take this visit seriously and respond positively by making some concessions," he says. "Importantly, the releasing of all remaining political prisoners and ending the civil war with ethnic minorities."

Secretary Clinton told NBC recently that these are all issues that will be high on her agenda.

"They need to begin to look at how they resolve these ethnic conflicts that have driven tens of thousands of Burmese of different ethnicities into refugee status," Clinton said. "They have to have a real electoral system with an open door to political parties and free expression."

Clinton says this is about whether Myanmar is on a path to democracy.

Before going to Myanmar, Clinton will be attending a conference in Busan, South Korea. That's where donor nations and recipients are grappling with another major challenge: tight budgets.

"The background truth that we are facing up to is [that] we are going to have to do a lot more with a lot less," says Paul O'Brien of Oxfam America.

O'Brien says that the conference will bring together donors and developing countries to talk about a deal they had made. If poorer countries clean up corruption and manage their finances better, donors will try to be more predictable with their aid. O'Brien says the latest reports show that donors are not keeping their end of the bargain.

"On the 13 indicators that the donors were supposed to meet, they failed on 12 of them and succeeded on one, and the only one they succeeded on was talking to each other more," he says. "So this whole idea that, 'you guys get your act together, we will trust you more,' is failing."

In the meantime, emerging powers like China have been offering big investments in Africa and Latin America without all the strings attached. They have a lot of money to invest but they don't want to see discussion in the same way around democracy, human rights and transparency, O'Brien says.

"So the real question for the secretary is: is she going to be able to move the discussion back towards what we were all there for in the first place?" he says. "Let's get these countries to be more accountable and let's hold them accountable and let's make sure their citizens can hold them accountable [That's] the deeper political agenda that we have all been working on for many decades."

That's an agenda Secretary Clinton will be trying to push both in Korea and in Myanmar this week.

Source : www.npr.org

Bullies add to refugees' misery

 By TAN CHOE CHOE
KUALA LUMPUR

 Not only is bullying morally wrong, but it can also destroy childhood for children, says Unicef

The three sketches are by a Myanmar refugee child at a refugee learning centre in Kuala Lumpur which depict the abuse and discrimination she has experienced as she struggles to regain her footing in a foreign land.

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WARM and friendly, Malaysians are often commended for our willingness to lend to the less fortunate.'

But why does a young girl who had come to our shores two years ago to seek a brighter future, clench her teeth and sob quietly when asked about her experience in Malaysia?

Dawn  had just turned 15 when she braved the high seas in a cramped fishing boat. She fled a homeland that has been embroiled in internal conflict since 1948 -- Myanmar.

With her mother and an 11-year-old younger sister, the three held on tightly to each other and tried not to think about the added risk of being captured by slave-traders prowling the waters.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, they arrived in bright, sunny Malaysia.

 

 

Sketches by a Myanmar refugee child at a refugee learning centre in Kuala Lumpur depict the abuse and discrimination she has experienced as she struggles to regain her footing in a foreign land.

With the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the family of three was reunited with their father in a refugee centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur. They have sought shelter for the last two years in this unmarked building, and there now seems to be a semblance of normalcy in their lives.

Although their movements are restricted and they fear being detained if they venture too far from the area surrounding their refugee centre, for once, Dawn can go to school and is learning English.



Her yearning to learn more was  evident as she listened attentively to every question posed to her, shaping her mouth silently around some words to familiarise herself.

Perhaps this insatiable thirst for knowledge is what continues to push her to take the 20-minute trek to a school nearby every day --  though the journey often brings them face to face with a bunch of young, local bullies.

 "They throw stones at us. They pull our hair sometimes and shout at us -- something very bad. Sometimes my sister will go and cry in the toilet."

Jim, head of the refugee centre where Dawn is taking shelter now, said cases of refugee children being bullied was nothing new.

"Even our adults are robbed, cursed at, looked down on. We fled our homeland because we had no choice but to leave.

"Here, we thought we can have a chance...but...we just wonder now, why is our life so hard?"

When asked if she still believed that there was a brighter future ahead, Dawn looked down on her lap and let the tears fall, unhindered.

Watching the girl and reflecting on the plight of his people, Jim, a 45-year-old, also teared up.

It is reported that there are now some 95,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia, fleeing persecution and conflict from many countries including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Since 1989, Nov 20 is Universal Children's Day. Malaysia, being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, also observes this day as one of celebration of the well-being of children.

"Child rights mean that children themselves have to learn to respect each other's rights," said Unicef representative to Malaysia, Hans Olsen. "Children's opinions and actions are influenced by what adults and friends around them think, do and say. Prejudice is learnt by living and observing it in society; a child may grow up believing that this is how life must be."

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has so far identified more than 50 grounds of discrimination against children based either on their identity or the identity of their parents.  These include discrimination against gender, race, citizenship, family background and income, ability, and HIV status. Discrimination against these children may mean poking fun at them, or not allowing them to participate in play or other activities.

Names have been changed to protect  identity

Read more: Bullies add to refugees' misery - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/bullies-add-to-refugees-misery-1.11212#ixzz1f5I3Y200

Myanmar refugee children in Malaysia vulnerable to deportation

By Lee Seung-joon

Myanmar refugee children hold hands with volunteers from JUST, a non-governmental organization, before starting a football match on the rooftop of a sports center in Petaling Jaya, Selangor Province, Malaysia on Nov. 12.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia ― Myanmar children, shedding their identities as refugees, ran around freely without any worries for an afternoon despite remaining vulnerable to deportation.

Ignoring the poor living conditions, they were far from depressed. Twenty-eight excited children, aged 7 to 12, with big smiles they began to jump around as soon as they arrived at the sports center on Nov. 12.

Thawng Sian Khampi, principal of the Zomi Education Center, said that this type of outdoor event doesn’t happen often enough for them.

“The children spend most of their time inside because going out is risky," said Khampi, also a Zomi refugee.

According to the United Nations’ refugee agency, an estimated 78,000 illegal immigrants in Malaysia are from Myanmar. Of them, about 10,000 belong to Zomi, a combination of “Zo,” an ethnic group, and “mi” meaning people. They fled military-ruled, impoverished Myanmar to Malaysia through Thai jungles seeking a better life or political asylum.

The children carry refugee certificates issued by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, the authorized document is not considered legitimate because Malaysia is not a signatory of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

"The difficult situation facing us in Malaysia remains unchanged. Even refugee certificates don’t make a difference. We don’t have any protection from the Malay government," said Khampi. He added that refugees can be deported for immigration offences and they don’t receive any medical treatment such as in the case of traffic accidents.

Children and a group of young men from 14 countries, who are participating in the Inter-Civilization Youth Engagement Program offered by the International Movement for a Just World (JUST), did not speak the same language as the children from Myanmar, but a few soccer balls were all they needed to spend a fun time on the rooftop of a shopping center in Petaling Jaya on the northwestern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

When asked if he was enjoying himself, nine-year-old Lianpi nodded his head.

“The children are showing such positive energy that we all are having an exhilarating time. I hope they will remember this fun time," said Naida Shamsirbahri from Singapore. She was one of 38 volunteers from JUST.

JUST, a non-governmental organization headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor Province, aims to promote global awareness and correct the injustice in the world

Khampi, concurrently vice president of the Zomi Association of Malaysia, added that the education center was established in 2007 under an initiative of the association as children were not allowed to go to public schools. “The community could not just wait for Malaysia to join the 1951 convention,” he said.

The absence of basic education violates their rights and proves to be a lifelong handicap for the future of these children, said Khampi. “Zomi adults and a small number of volunteers take every role in the center such as teachers, cooks and nurses. As a result, we need more volunteers.”

There are about 1,000 Zomis under the age of 18 in Malaysia, and the number is increasing, according to Khampi.

The writer is a Korea Times intern.

Chin refugee stabbed to death in Malaysia

A Chin refugee was stabbed to death by Thin Lin from Hmawbi Township, Rangoon division, Burma in Cameroon highland of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at around 5 pm local standard time on November 16.

The dead was identified as Ki Lawha, son of Thin Khaw Lin and Mrs. Lin Khaw Nam from Mindat Township, Chin state, Burma. He was recognized as a refugee in Malaysia by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Ki Lawha was stabbed in the abdomen and admitted to the local hospital but he died at around 1 pm on November 17. We do not know why the incident occurred,” said Mr. Lal Siam Mawi, President of Chin Disciplinary Affairs Committee.

Thin Lin was arrested by Mr. Billy Tong Bung, Mr. Thang Lian and Mr. Pathang from the Chin community and handed over to the local police station.

It is learnt that Thin Lin and Ki Lawha stayed together in the work place and they had been quarreling frequently.

Malaysia UNHCR also intervened, said A Chin refugee from Malaysia. Khonumthung news

Refugee Children Star in Talent Competition (2011)

The talent of refugee children shone today in a Talent Competition organised in conjunction with Universal Children's Day. 12 Finalists comprising refugee children between 10-17 years sang and danced to vie for the top prizes in the Refugee Children Talent Competition.

Themed "I'm A Star", this is the second time this talent competition has been held by UNHCR specifically for refugee children in Malaysia. Since October, over 200 refugee children from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Somalia have auditioned for the talent competition.

Wiith a voice that belied his young age, 10 year old Sen Hkum Share took the trophy home with his heartfelt rendition of Westlife's 'Fool Again', while 11 year old Tu Chin Lian impressed the judges to victory with his moonwalk moves of Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal'.

Universal Children's Day 2011 recognises the rights of children worldwide to have a childhood of safety and with the highest possible quality of life. However, this right is often denied to refugee children.

There are over 19,000 refugee children in Malaysia. Due to trauma and displacement because of war and conflict, many of them are denied normal childhoods.

While in exile, they often do not have the opportunity to participate in activities enjoyed by other children their age - activities which provide essential lessons for their mental and physical well-being and development - including expressions of creativity, healthy competition, team work and play.

The Refugee Children Talent Competition was held to give refugee children this opportunity, and the right to normal childhood activities like every other child.

Winners of the Refugee Children Talent Competition 2011

UNHCR KL Representative Alan Vernon giving a short welcoming speech before the show begins

Winner of the singing category Seng Hkum Share performing Westlife's 'Fool Again'

Some of the winners posing with friends and family after the show

Winner of the dancing category Tu Cin Lian ready to moonwalk to Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal

Urging Burma to change

President Barack Obama is moving shrewdly by testing the new government in Burma. He intends to dispatch Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a serious look at the mood in the country, a year after it claimed to have made the decision to throw off 49 years of military dictatorship.

The United States is one of the last countries to give Burma a chance. But Mr Obama has chosen to start right from the top with a high-profile event. Many others, notably the European Union and countries of Europe, have moved into Burma on little cat's feet, slowly testing the government with basic diplomacy such as film festivals and informational events.

Mr Obama announced the decision to approach Burma at a high level during last weekend's summits in Bali. Neither he nor several predecessors ever had much luck convincing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to join the western nation in criticising and sanctioning Burma. The odious military regimes, which became increasingly cruel and repressive after the 1962 coup, were detested worldwide. But the members of Asean held their noses and pretended for more than two decades that things were getting better in Burma.

They were not. Military regimes cancelled even the most basic human rights. Burma had no freedom of speech or even of religion. The armed forces and its civil service routinely punished families for the sins of a son or daughter. The most visible victim of the dictatorship was Aung San Suu Kyi, denied contact with her dying husband and her children, incarcerated for most of the past 20 years _ without charges or legal help. Her fate was a symbol of the way the tyrants in power controlled everyone.

There are strong indications, however, that the bad old days may be ending. There is still a long way to go. But Mr Obama personally telephoned Mrs Suu Kyi last week. He got through to her, an impossible task until last year. And she told him that it might be a good idea to send Mrs Clinton to make approaches to the new, nominally civilian government in Naypyidaw. And Burmese President Thein Sein, at the leaders' summit in Indonesia, spoke in what might be considered a straightforward manner. There are, he said, numerous tasks before Burma can be considered a free country.

The fact that Mr Thein Sein listed the problems _ ethnic mistrust, thousands of political prisoners, continuing media repression _ is unique in Burma in the past 49 years, during which the military killed Southeast Asia's most thriving democracy and its best economy.

Admitting some problems is progress, although he left out two important ones. The first is that his government still acquiesces in East Asia's biggest illicit drug trade. It will take a strong man to admit this, but it is vital that the president act against drug lords, and soon. The second is the huge, tragic and costly presence of refugees in Thailand, as well as India, China, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Officially, there are 129,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand. There are probably a million or more altogether.

But things are certainly improving. Mrs Suu Kyi, who boycotted the elections and saw her National League for Democracy banned, said last week she will re-enter politics _ and probably run for parliament. The media censors have eased, a European film festival was recently held, access to mobile phones and the internet have increased.

It is still far too early to credit Burma with a turnaround, but there are increasing signs that meaningful reforms may be possible.

Source : Bangkok Post 

Chin Refugees Arrested in Malaysian Crackdowns

Malaysian RELA raiding homes in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: CG)

At least ten Chin refugees including women have been detained following a series of government-planned crackdowns on 'undocumented' foreign workers in Malaysia since last month.

The Chin refugees were arrested in different locations including Seremban, Ipoh, and Kepong of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, with only two being registered as refugees with the UNHCR, according to the Voice of Chin Refugees.

Six of them from Seremban City are known to have been sent to Lenggeng Immigration detention centre while a Chin man from Ipoh City is detained in Lengkap Immigration detention centre and other threes being put to a lockup in Serihatamas Jalan Duta Desa Immigration complex.

It is believed that Malaysian authorities will be in liaison with the UNHCR Office in Kuala Lumpur to see if the Chin detainees, among many, are refugees.

A member of the Chin Refugee Committee was quoted as saying that the detainees without the UNHCR registration card could face months of detention.

"With the immigration crackdown beginning, the Chin community fears for the displacement of thousands of family members still waiting in queue for registration from the office of the UNHCR."

There are more than ten thousand Chin refugees, who have not been registered with the UNHCR, according to ACR (Alliance of Chin Refugees) and CRC (Chin Refugee Committee).

According to a report earlier this month, the Malaysian government had arrested nearly 200 undocumented workers and 5 employers in three states across the country since 20 October.

The Malaysian government made an official announcement in October that it plans to deploy hundreds of thousands of enforcement officers and volunteers  in an attempt to sweep out 'undocumented' foreign workers.

Joy as widow's dream of new life comes true

Six months ago, she became the human face of Australia's controversial refugee deal with Malaysia.

Sui Neih Maui, a 35-year-old Chin refugee, had been living in fear in a Kuala Lumpur slum since she fled the army in Burma and her husband was murdered.

When _The West Australian _tracked her down in May, she was preparing to be the first refugee to call WA home since the so-called Malaysian solution was announced.

Last week, in her new home in Perth, she said he had never felt safer in her life. "I never want to go back there," she said.

Despite the collapse of the Malaysia deal, Australia will keep its end of the bargain - increasing its refugee intake by 4000 over four years.

Most of these will be Burmese refugees, who make up the majority of 94,000 refugees in exile in Malaysia.

The most likely Burmese refugees to benefit from the deal are the Christian Chin ethnic minority.

In the past month, seven ethnic Chin have been resettled in Perth.

Obama sending Clinton to repressive Myanmar

Seizing an opportunity for historic progress in repressive Myanmar, President Barack Obama is dispatching Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the long-isolated nation next month in an attempt to accelerate fledgling reforms.

The move is the most dramatic sign yet of an evolving relationship between the United States and Myanmar, also known as Burma, which has suffered under brutal military rule for decades. Obama said Friday there had been "flickers of progress" since new civilian leadership took power in March.

Responding to signs of reform, Myanmar's main opposition party, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, decided on Friday to register again for future elections after boycotting last year's voting.

"If Burma continues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America," Obama said as he announced Clinton's trip while on a diplomatic mission to southeast Asia.

Clinton will be the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Myanmar in more than 50 years.

In exploring a breakthrough engagement with Myanmar, Obama first sought assurances of support from Suu Kyi. She spent 15 years under house arrest by the nation's former military dictators but is now in talks with the civilian government about reforming the country.

A U.S. opening with Myanmar would also contribute to Obama's goals of rebalancing power in the region, as Burma's military leaders for long had close ties to China.

Beijing has poured billions of dollars of investment into Myanmar to operate mines, extract timber and build oil and gas pipelines. China has also been a staunch supporter of the country's politically isolated government and is Myanmar's second-biggest trading partner after Thailand.

Administration officials stressed that the new engagement with Myanmar was not about China. They said the Obama administration consulted with China about the move and said they expected China to be supportive. They argued that China wants to see a stable Burma on its borders, so that it doesn't risk problems with refugees or other results of political instability.

Obama and democracy leader Suu Kyi spoke by phone on Thursday night while he was flying to Bali on Air Force One.

By sending in Clinton, his chief diplomat, Obama is taking a calculated political risk in a place where repression is still common. He warned that if the country fails to commit to a true opening of its society, it will continue to face sanctions and isolation. But he said that the current environment is a rare opening that could help millions of people "and that possibility is too important to ignore."

Myanmar is subject to wide-ranging trade, economic and political sanctions from the U.S. and other Western nations, enforced in response to brutal crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters in 1988 and 2007 and its refusal to hand power to Suu Kyi's party after the 1990 elections.

Clinton said that while there may be an opening for a democracy push in Myanmar, the U.S. was proceeding cautiously.

"We're not ending sanctions. We're not making any abrupt changes," she said during an interview with Fox News. "We have to do some more fact-finding and that's part of my trip."

Suu Kyi's lawyer, Nyan Win, welcomed news of Clinton's visit.

"It is time for the U.S. to make such a high-level visit. This is going to be a very crucial visit," Win said.

Senior Obama administration officials said the U.S. wants to see a number of actions from Myanmar, including the release of more political prisoners; serious internal domestic diplomacy between the government and ethnic groups, some of which have been in civil war for decades; and further assurances with regards to interactions with North Korea.

The administration's policy toward Myanmar has focused on punishments and incentives to get the country's former military rulers to improve dire human rights conditions. The U.S. imposed new sanctions on Myanmar but made clear it was open to better relations if the situation changed.

Myanmar's nominally civilian government has declared its intention to liberalize the hardline policies of the junta that preceded it. It has taken some initial steps, such as easing censorship, legalizing labor unions, suspending an unpopular, China-backed dam project, and working with Suu Kyi.

Officials said Clinton would travel to Myanmar Dec. 1, making stops in Yangon and Naypyitaw.

Human rights groups welcomed Obama's announcement as an opportunity to compel further reforms.

"We've been arguing a long time that political engagement and political pressure are not mutually exclusive," Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Southeast Asia researcher, told The Associated Press, adding that Clinton "should not miss the opportunity in this historic visit to pressure the government and speak very clearly that the human rights violations taking place there need to stop."

Elaine Pearson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the Burmese government must realize that a visit by Clinton "puts them on notice, not lets them off the hook for their continually atrocious human rights record."

Obama was to see Burma's president during the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, that brought him to Bali. The two have met before, at an ASEAN meeting in Singapore, when Thein Sein was prime minister.

ASEAN announced Friday that Myanmar would chair the regional bloc in 2014, a significant perch that Myanmar was forced to skip in 2006 because of intense criticism of its rights record.

Obama attended a meeting Friday afternoon with the heads of ASEAN, whose 10 members include host Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The group will expand for the East Asia Summit, a forum that also counts China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the U.S. as members.

The president held one-on-one meetings on the sidelines of the summit with leaders from Indonesia, India, Malaysia and the Philippines. Administration officials said Obama discussed the issue of Myanmar in his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

Earlier, in a move promoting American trade, Obama presided over a deal that will send Boeing planes to an Indonesian company and create jobs back home, underscoring the value of the lucrative Asia-Pacific market to a president needing some good economic news.

Obama stood watch as executives of Boeing and Lion Air, a private carrier in Indonesia, signed a deal that amounts to Boeing's largest commercial plane order. Lion Air ordered 230 airplanes, and the White House said it would support tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S.

Associated Press writers Aye Aye Win in Yangon and Alisa Tang in Bangkok contributed to this report.

2011/2012 Subcommittee on Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Interim Report

The Subcommittee on Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs (“SMRIA”) has met twice for the term 2011/12. 

The foci of SMRIA are the following issues:

(1) Pekerja Asing Tanpa Izin Courts;

(2) Rights of domestic workers in relation to the Employment (Amendment) Bill and International Labour Organization (“ILO”) Convention on Domestic Workers;

(3) Police shooting of foreign nationals;

(4) Refugees and stateless persons in Sabah;

(5) Medical insurance for foreign workers; and

(6) Malaysia’s reports on compliance of ILO conventions.

SMRIA has planned the following activities:

(1) ASEAN Legal Network/Two-day workshop on migrants and refugees

SMRIA has proposed to set up an ASEAN Legal Network with the following objectives:

(a) Set up a network for law societies from the source and destination countries of domestic workers to work with one another on migrant and refugee issues;

(b) Generate a referral mechanism for cases involving migrants and refugees; 

(c) Establish a legal framework on migrant and refugee issues in ASEAN countries, eg on anti-trafficking;

(d) Create a platform for law societies in ASEAN to share information and knowledge on how migrant and refugee rights are protected in different jurisdictions; and

(e) Encourage the law societies to set up a committee on migrants and refugees within their organisation.

A two-day workshop in November 2011 will be organised as the first activity of the ASEAN Legal Network.

(2) Training on international refugee law

In the previous term, SMRIA jointly organised a seminar on international refugee law with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) in Malaysia and Judicial and Legal Training Institute (“ILKAP”) on 5 and 6 Aug 2010 at the ILKAP training centre in Bangi. 

The speaker, Rodger Haines QC, is the Deputy Chairperson of the New Zealand Refugee Status Appeals Authority and a lecturer in immigration and refugee law at the Faculty of Law, Auckland University.

The web report for the seminar can be accessed here.

This term, SMRIA will collaborate with UNHCR Malaysia to organise training at Bar Council premises, tentatively scheduled on 12 and 13 Oct 2011.  An official from the UNHCR office in Bangkok will be invited as a speaker for the training.

(3) Dialogue with city councils

The initiative to dialogue with city councils was the result of UNHCR’s new urban refugee policy briefing jointly organised by Bar Council and UNHCR Malaysia on 7 Apr 2010.

The web report for the briefing can be accessed here.

SMRIA will have its inaugural dialogue with the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (“MPAJ”) to discuss issues concerning refugees within MPAJ’s jurisdiction and services that can be provided to these refugees.  The date will be confirmed soon.

(4) Roundtable Conference: Developing A Comprehensive Policy Framework for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (Part II)

On 23 June 2009, SMRIA successfully organised a roundtable conference to consider current practices and to develop a comprehensive policy framework to enhance the social protection of refugees and asylum seekers.  41 participants attended the conference, including representatives from Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (“SUHAKAM”), UNHCR, United Nations Children’s Fund (“UNICEF”), International Committee of the Red Cross, Malaysian Medical Association and other members of civil society.

The web report for the conference can be accessed here.

SMRIA prepared a memorandum entitled “Developing a Comprehensive Policy Framework for Refugees and Asylum Seekers” from the views and suggestions collated at the conference.

SMRIA will organise a second part to the conference in October 2011 to map out an action plan for issues raised in the memorandum. 

(5) Proposed exchange of asylum seekers for refugees between Malaysia and Australia

The Malaysian Bar released the following press statements to denounce the arrangement:

(a) “Asylum seekers and refugees are not commodities to be traded” (dated 9 May 2011); and

(b) “Home Minister must walk the PM’s talk in respect of refugee deal with Australia” (dated 3 June 2011).

Following that, the Office Bearers and representatives of SMRIA met officials from the International Court of Justice, Refugee Council of Australia and UNHCR Malaysia, in separate meetings to discuss and exchange views on the arrangement of exchange of asylum seekers between Malaysia and Australia.

SMRIA will organise a roundtable discussion in November 2011 on this matter. 

(6) 60th anniversary of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and World Refugee Day celebrated on 20 June 2011

On World Refugee Day 2011, the Malaysian Bar issued a press statement entitled “Refugees: Save them from a different kind of hell” (dated 20 June 2011).

The memorandum entitled “Developing a Comprehensive Policy Framework for Refugees and Asylum-Seekers” was released to the press in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and World Refugee Day.  The document was forwarded to the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Home Affairs urging them to look into the plight of asylum seekers and refugees.   

M Ramachelvam

Chairperson

Subcommittee on Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs

Dated 26 Aug 2011

 

Source : www.malaysianbar.org.my

RM575,400 to help fund mission

Contribution to support humanitarian effort in Somalia

Datuk Ahmad A. Talib (second from right) presenting a mock cheque to Dr Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid. With them are (from left) Mercy Malaysia Relief Operations head Edward Hew Cheong Yew, Mercy Malaysia executive director Zahrah Yaacob and New Straits Times Press corporate communications head Wan Abdullah Wan Nawi.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) has received RM575,401 from the Tabung Bencana NSTP-Media Prima to help fund its mission in Somalia.

  The cheque was presented by Media Prima Bhd News and Editorial Operations executive director Datuk Ahmad A. Talib to Mercy Malaysia assistant honorary secretary Dr Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid at Balai Berita here yesterday.

  Dr Hariyati said the contribution would be used to support the organisation's existing humanitarian effort in the war-torn country.

  "Thanks to the generosity of the public, we will be able to reach out to the 471,000 displaced victims of war in Mogadishu and provide them with food, sanitation and healthcare."

  Mercy Malaysia has so far established mobile medical clinics in two refugee camps as well as a supplementary feeding centre, run by partners Somalia Young Doctors Association and Muslim Aid respectively.

  Dr Hariyati said the operations cost Mercy Malaysia   US$133,984 (RM424,167), excluding a newly-implemented psychosocial programme for Somali children which costs US$50,000.

  She added it was important for Malaysians and other organisations to help make this mission a success by continuing to donate to the fund.

  Meanwhile, Media Prima Bhd is the first media group in the country to send journalists to Mercy Malaysia's specialised training for volunteers on humanitarian relief missions.

  Last Friday, media staff from the New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, New Straits Times Press Photo Department, TV3,  Astro Awani, Petronas and UMW Toyota took part in the basic mission training  course.

  The three-day two-night course, the third held this year and conducted by Mercy Malaysia and General Operation Force (GOF) trainers,  was held the GOF camp in Ulu Kinta, Perak.

  Mercy Malaysia vice-president Associate Prof Dr Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh said they invited Media Prima to participate as it was important for media practitioners to be properly trained when covering stories in  war zones and during disasters.

    Last Monday, Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum told Parliament that government would assist media organisations to train their journalists and photographers   assigned to high risk areas.

Read more: RM575,400 to help fund mission - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/rm575-400-to-help-fund-mission-1.7613#ixzz1e33cxBUq

1,000 Kachins Flee to IDP Camps

In October, Burmese people staged a protest in front of Burmese embassy in Malaysia, calling for the end of government military offensives in Kachin State. (Photo: Reuters)

More than 1,000 villagers in southern Kachin State have taken shelter in makeshift camps in the jungle after fleeing their homes to avoid being caught in the crossfire of an intensifying conflict between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese government forces.
Relief workers say the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in question have fled in the last few days and are from five villages around Mansi Township, some 25 km southeast of Bhamo in southernmost Kachin State, close to the Shan State and Chinese borders.
The relief groups accuse the Burmese government of denying the UN and intentional organizations access to the IDP camps to deliver humanitarian assistance.
Kaw Ja, a member of a Kachin youth group which is assisting refugees and IDPs at the Sino-Burmese border, said that the number of IDPs had reached 1,187 by Tuesday, and that they had been separated into six camps near the border behind KIA front lines.
“In this camp alone, there are 400 refugees,” he said. “They are currently sheltering in temporary makeshift tents and sharing whatever food they have brought with them.”
“We are not able to adequately supply the IDPs, and in the long run they will face food shortages. They presently have no support,” he said.
A recently arrived IDP named Churchman said he and 180 fellow villagers from Mansi Township had fled in a hurry, and that many had run away without carrying any supplies. He said some had sheltered with relatives in other villages, but that he and his family had joined hundreds of other villagers in seeking refuge at a camp in Nawng Tau, near the Chinese border.
“Our living conditions are alright,” said Churchman. “However, we are worried about food supplies.”
Villagers fleeing from conflict in Kachin State are not recognized as refugees by the Chinese government and cannot therefore cross the border freely, said KIA spokesman La Nan. 
Mai Ja, a local relief worker, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the offensive is intensifying and more troops are being deployed into the region.
The exodus of people from their villages across Kachin State began on June 9 due to the resumption of hostilities between the two sides. There now estimated to be some 30,000 IDPs sheltering at nine camps in and around the main town of Laiza and seven camps in Maija Yang on the Shan-Kachin border.
The villagers say they fear being captured, abused or even killed by Burmese soldiers; accounts are rife of human rights abuses by troops in the area.
Mai Ja said that Tuesday marks the 19th day that a 28-year-old Kachin woman from Moemot Township has been held in captivity by government troops from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 321.
“The troops seized the girl, her husband, their infant and her father-in-law while they were returning home from their fields with maize,” she said. “The others were later released, but not the woman.”
According to a report by the Kachin Women's Association Thailand, on Oct. 8, soldiers from LIB 74, 276 and 601 arrested eight males aged between 17 and 65 years from Namlim Pa village in Bhanmaw District. The eight were forced to work as porters, carrying army supplies and weapons.
Villagers often have to carry sacks of rice, food and heavy weapons, frequently have their hands tied, and may be forced to walk all day on very little water and food, the report said.
A UK MP, Andrew Mitchell, the country's secretary of state for international development, visits Burma this week. Burma Campaign UK has called on him to do more to ensure British aid reaches internal refugees who have fled increased attacks by the Burmese army over the past year.
Burma Campaign UK said that almost 150,000 people in Burma have been forced to flee their homes in the past year because of internal conflicts, and that the Burmese government is severely restricting access to these internal refugees by the UN and other aid agencies, resulting in a shortage of food, shelter, clothing and medicine.

A Day Out with Myanmar Refugee Kids

By Haider Yutim

It was 'a day out' to remember for 28 Myanmar refugee children from the Zomi ethnic when they had a fun-filled event which was organized by International Movement for a Just World (JUST), an NGO that seeks to develop global awareness of the injustices within the existing system.   The children aged between 7 to 12, were fed with various fun activities including group games and futsal during the event held last Saturday evening on 12 November at 1 Utama Shopping Center's roof top. By the looks of those children, they seemed very excited being able to go out and spend quality time among themselves.   Vice president of Zomi Association of Malaysia who's, fondly known as Khampi (left), when met by Malaysian Digest described this as an opportunity for those kids to spend their time outside.   "Because most of the times, they stayed at their apartments and studied there at night and sleep there... sometimes we just arrange the tables and let them do their activties there.   "So every day.. they spend it in their rooms and not allowed to attend public schools because going out for them is quite risky," said Khampi who is also in charge of the children in Malaysia.     Education Restores Their Hope   Through the organization, the children were also taught English, Mathematics and Sciene despite limited space and teaching materials. He said if one drops by to their place, one can see that they don't have as much equipments as a normal teaching center has, but nevertheless the children are still fed with as much education they can get, as it is important to them because it restores their hope.   "Education holds their future... that's why we are trying our best for these kids," said Khampi.   Meanwhile, program co-ordinator from JUST, Helen Ng (left) during a brief interview said that this is the first time her organization had done such a program involving Myanmar kids. Nevertheless, she said this is not the first time they had done a program for children where two years ago they visited a children's home in Klang where they had donated food and spent time with them by playing games and singing songs.   They even did a similar program last year where they visted a center for children, disabled and old-folks and spent time with them like they did in the previous center.   The kids were handled by a team of volunteers consisting of local youths as well as foriegners from Inter-civilizational Youth Engagement Program (IYEP).   "The adults will play with the children to make them feel wanted as they don't often get visitors and stuff like that, so we did that and we even had performances by splitting into two groups where one went to the old-folks and one went to the children," said Ng to Malaysian Digest where she said for this year they decided to do something different by taking the kids out instead of them going over to their place.     Malaysians Doing a Good Job in Looking After Refugees   Commenting on the country's treatment towards refugees, she said although Malaysia does not encourage the entering of these refugees, but at the same time they don't turn them out and that Malaysians are looking after them very well.   "Hopefully within a year or two they would have a better policy... but for now whatever the Malaysians can do to help to look after them, that's what's happening.   "The Malaysian people are looking after them very well," said Ng.     PTA Should Help Out Too   However, she said it would be great if all Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) especially in urban areas to hold special classes for these refugee children and the PTA can also collect funds to pay for those teachers who teach those children.   She stressed that it is important for them to have an education so that they can move forward as it is not their fault that they're here.   In Malaysia, life for a refugee is quite challenging as they cannot work legally and most of them live in fear of detention, despite having received a refugee card from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).   While there are services such as Zomi Association of Malaysia and such, to help the refugees, they still feel vulnerable every time they leave their apartments.   Nevertheless, for these children all they know is that they need to live, play and study like a normal children as they have yet to understand the meaning of 'refugee' or the reason why they're here as in a children's world, there are no conflicts, war or even racism like the ones exist in the adult world. Source : malaysiandigest.com

Undocumented Children in Malaysia Barred From School

Two-year-old Arfaisal Marsaleh, a stateless child, holds on to his mother in a slum village in Kinarut, in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island (file photo).

Tens of thousands of undocumented immigrant children in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo Island are not being allowed to go to school.  Efforts to change this are under way.  Early this year, a community-built education center at a refugee village was inaugurated for 300 undocumented children who previously had never attended school. With support from UNICEF and the Malaysian government, officials hope to replicate this model in other deprived communities.

Traveling to the seaside refugee village of Kampung Numbak, north of Sabah’s capital, Kota Kinabalu, is a gut-churning experience.

The tin-roofed wooden houses in this fishing community are built on stilts to prevent them from being submerged by water.  Low tide waters reveal a sea of garbage.  Wooden bridges, some with rotten and missing planks, connect the village streets.  Small stores selling a range of items, from soft drinks and basic food to clothing and electronic wares, line the streets.

At the end of the main road is the Kampung Numbak Education Center, a simple structure built on stilts.

“In this school, there are only children that are undocumented, said U.N. Children’s Fund Representative to Malaysia Hans Olsen. "There were parents who wanted to have their children here in this school, which happened to be in the middle of the community, but they were not admitted if they had no documents.” 

Stateless children

Kampung Numbak’s population of some 8,000 people is a mix of Malay nationals, refugee and undocumented migrant workers, mainly from the Philippines.  Hans Olsen says Malay children can go to government-run schools, but children without birth certificates or other proof of legal residency are not given the same privilege.

“The children that are here had not been to school before," he said.  "They were left behind when the other children went to the government schools.  So, when you come into the classroom here in Kampung Numbak, the children you see at their desks, before the beginning of this year, they did not have access to school at all, none of them had gone to school before.”

A 2009 study by the Ministry of Education found nearly 44,000 undocumented children between the ages of seven and 17 were not enrolled in school.  This figure is believed to be grossly underestimated. 

Exploitation

Children who do not go to school are easily exploited.  Many are forced to perform child labor.  Others wind up on the streets, become involved with drugs, petty crime and are exposed to abuse.

UNICEF Monitoring and Educational Officer Nur Anuar Muthalib says education may not be a panacea.  But, it can help children avoid many of these pitfalls.

“From our view, children are children," said the officer.  "Their place is in school.  It is not the children’s fault that they are in our country and not able to attend schooling.  It is their right.”

Teachers' committment

There are more than 40 children in this classroom.  The teachers are young, generally inexperienced, and poorly paid.  But, they take their jobs seriously and are committed to helping their pupils learn.  One teacher, Amira Binti Asen Abdullah, says she is proud of the progress her students have made in such a short time.

“Before this, the children just hang around playing," she said.  "After this, because they have this school, they come here every day and study.  Sometimes in the evening, they also come here. So, the students ... very, very love to come to school every day.”

Students agree.  Before coming to this school, 11-year-old Normida says she could not read or count.  Now, she likes going to school.  She especially likes Islamic studies and wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Thirteen-year-old Azali has never attended school.  He is excited to be in class.  He says he is learning a lot and wants to become a soldier.

Twelve-year-old Benhar has greater ambitions. He wants to be a money-maker. He wants to be a millionaire.  

UNICEF and Malay officials say their aim is to replicate the Kampung Numbak model in other deprived communities in Sabah.  Their next project, they say, will be to construct a school for an estimated 1,000 undocumented children in the refugee village of Kampung Bahagia, where the existing building is in a deplorable state.

"Open Letter from 3 Prolong Burmese Detainees in Australian Detention

"A Call for Humanitarian Intervention"

We are recognized refugees of Burma. Our ethnic minority is unknown to the world, yet is one of the most oppressed minority group in Burma, the sole ethnic who has been declined any rights for an identity. We are de-facto stateless. Remember our race: we are Rohingyas.

It was out of ultimate survival that we embark in a boat hoping for Australian protection and mercy. The trip was promising pain and potentially death but it was far better than continuing enduring abuses and extreme violations of human rights in the countries of transit. Although we had refugee status in Malaysia, Malaysia was never better than Burma for our people. 

As we hope for a life that we never had the right to have, a safe land that we never walked on, where we could breathe without fear, we remained locked in Australian detention until May 2010, when we were finally confirmed as refugee.

We thought the end of life of nightmare was over and we would born as new man.

Yet we were kept in detention. The process of our case was not over and required security clearance by ASIO, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization. Two years have passed since our arrival in Australia and yet we remained detained. Although our physical health was maintained by constant check, our mental health has been severely affected as a consequence of the injustice of our mandatory detention.

We have a strong feeling of indirect discrimination and unfair treatment in processing our cases while both DIAC and ASIO uphold proper schedules which complete every process of asylum claim within 90 days with respect and dignity for the vast priority groups.

After a long wait of two years, we have been given a rejection letter as negative security assessment under Australian Security Act 1979-section (4) that stated to find a third country. This news has devastated us.

Why have we been rejected? What sort of security threat are we considered as? Rohingyas are terrorized by the military junta and there are no links that we know of to any terror organization. Our minority is surviving and we , as part of this community have also spend each day of our life trying to survive.

We have no alternative or way to appeal to this decision as our stateless and illegal status in Australia does not provide us any legal ground. Although we are in Australia, we have no access to Justice to defend our case and we are left languishing in unlawful detention for unlimited period ahead of us. Our full life in detention ahead. We are also not allowed to be placed into an alternative and softer detention like community detention and we are continuously placed in tight security were we are submitted to tempestuous intimidations although we are not criminal, just normal citizen of the world like most of you. And like anybody, we feel stress facing injustice and this leads to mental health issue, stress, depression, nightmare and more. We urge domestic and international legal system to review its policy in regards to stateless people and the fate for stateless refugees that are denied security clearance. We are human, our life is precious to us and you cannot just store us in a box until we die. We hope for a future.

We can't also help to feel injustice and inconsistency when we witness the release of 4 Bangladeshi people who claimed to be Burmese. They are granted visa and released earlier than genuine Burmese refugees. According to immigration the 3 other Rohingyans in NIDC detention are also awaited 2 years for security clearances when ASIO itself told a parliamentary enquiry in October that it is not a requirement under the ASIO Act for boat arrivals to be detained during security processing.

We have respect for Australian policy abroad defending the refugees rights and working hand in hand with UNHCR when it comes to refugees fleeing Burma to reach any country that would give them protection. Unfortunately, the plight of Burmese does not end at the Burma border and Malaysia is a country of much oppression for refugees and Malaysia is another dictator to refugees.

Unfortunately , Rohingyas are rarely granted any visa to go to a third country, which is the reason why most of Burmese coming by boat are Rohingyas. This is how we came by boat. Today, the oppression of Rohingyas continues and has reached the soil of Australia that we considered a democratic country, respectful of human rights. Today, our life is hold forever in between walls, for no reason except ignorance.

We have no other ways to appeal any one, just through your kind humanitarian intervention to help us to get out of inappropriate, unreasonable, unlawful and arbitrary detention. Our lives are at risk, languishing in a legal limbo. We hope our voices will be heard, we hope all humanitarian quarters including resettlement countries will come and gather to help us through humanitarian intervention.

Today we are trapped, our past is dark. Our present is dark, our future is dark. Although we would like to taste life, Presently, death seems to be our only solution to finally find peace.

Please help us to find another solution than death.

Sincerely,

Shoef (Boat ID: VAU-2, in Villawood detention of Sydney)
Razamya (Boat ID: SEA-10, in Villawood detention of Sydney) Mufis (Boat ID: SEA-3, in Meribyrnong detention of Melbourne)

- Asian Tribune -

Burma regime faces calls to release Chin political prisoners

Transforming lives among the Burmese Chin of New Delhi

Remarkable photo exhibition is showing in Edinburgh through to the end of this month, featuring depictions of the Burmese Chin people by award-winning photographer Bharat Choudhary.

The show, which runs from 6-30 November 2011, is being sponsored by the Scottish charity Burma Assist, headed up by Chris Barr, which supports a Chin community tailoring training centre in New Delhi, India.

The official launch of the exhibition is taking place from 5-8pm on Saturday 12 November at Cafe Camino, located at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in the Scottish capital (1 Little King Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD).

In addition to the photos, there will be fine refreshments, a talk from the Burma Assist CEO, a DVD illustrating the situation of the Chin people and the charity's work, and a sale of Christmas cards and craft gifts.

Burma Assist's work is humanitarian relief aimed at helping a particular community - not least the women among them, whose livelihoods and status are particularly involved.

The Chin are one of the major ethnic groups originally from Burma (Myanmar) in Southeast Asia. For decades, they have suffered at the hands of the military regime there. As a predominantly Christian community, the Chin people are especially vulnerable as a result of their minority status - and many have sought refuge in other countries

Some 60,000 Chins live in extremely difficult conditions in India, existing on very scarce resources and sharing the plight of the local poor, plus some additional discrimination in housing, employment and healthcare.

Appropriately, the Burma Assist and Bharat Choudhary exhibition is entitled 'Searching for Home: Transforming Lives Among the Burmese Chin in Delhi'.

Human rights campaigners have called for the immediate release of ethnic Chin political prisoners held by the military regime in Burma (Mynamar).
They have urged President Thein Sein's government to free a range of people imprisoned for their political activity, including Kam Lam Khup, Kam Khan Khual, Go Pian Sing, Khun Tun Oo, Saing Ngunt Lwin, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Kyi, U Nyi Puh, and Tin Min Thut.
Seven Chin are believed to have been among the 6,359 political prisoners released on 12 October 2011 as part of an amnesty programme instituted by the Myanmar government - following lobbying from international human rights groups, including Amnesty International Australia and Human Rights Watch.
Burmese refugees have been continuing to flee to neighbouring countries such as India, Thailand and Malaysia.
Last year, Graham Thom, Amnesty International Australia's National Refugee Coordinator, was able to visit the Indian state of Mizoram to talk to Burmese Chin refugees.
The visit was organised by the Centre for Refugee Research at the University of New South Wales as part of a cultural exchange focusing on human rights issues, including gender persecution.
"We heard appalling accounts of the systematic rape by the Burmese military of Chin women and the family’s powerlessness to stop these attacks," he said.
Most Chin refugees enter India across the land border with Mizoram State, and this is where the majority of the refugee population has settled. Mizoram is one of the most urbanised states in India, and refugees generally gravitate towards cities and towns despite coming from largely agricultural backgrounds, reports Refugees International.
* A photo exhibition, 'Searching for Home: Transforming Lives Among the Burmese Chin in Delhi', is showing in Edinburgh through to the end of this month, featuring the work of award-winning photographer Bharat Choudhary. Its official launch is taking place from 5-8pm on Saturday 12 November 2011 at Cafe Camino, located at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in the Scottish capital (1 Little King Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD).

For more infomation, http://assistingburma.blogspot.com/

Chins in Norway Contributed for Kachin Refugees

Chin people living in Norway have come together in an effort to make contributions toward helping Kachin victims of the ongoing armed conflict against the Kachin Independence Army by Burma Army soldiers.

The Norway Chin Christian Federation (NCCF) announced last Sunday that a total donation of 91,400 Norwegian Kroner (about 16,119.50 US dollars) was collected among Chin churches, fellowships, families and individuals across Norway.

Pu Daniel, Treasurer of NCCF, said in his email: "We are pleased to say that Chin people in Norway contributed more than we had expected for our brothers, the Kachins. Our collection will be delivered to Kachin State by responsible Chin pastors in Burma."

It is claimed that Chairman of the Zomi Baptist Convention (ZBC), Rev. M. Thawng Kam and Pi Dar Nawn Tial are set to to meet with members of the Kachin Baptist Convention in Rangoon, former capital of Burma.

Sources confirmed that Chin churches based in Melbourne, Australia and Chin refugees in Malaysia under the leadership of the Malay Chin Christian Union (MCCU) are making their efforts in raising awareness and fund for Kachin refugees and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons).

The ongoing armed conflict between Burma Army soldiers and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has escalated in recent days, resulting in the displacement of an estimated 30,000 people, according to sources.

A Chin NGO worker, who recently returned from a trip to Kachin State, told Chinland Guardian: "The humanitarian situation in Kachin State is devastating and the people victimized by the ongoing conflict are in urgent need of relief aid."

In Aizawl, Mizoram State of India, a newly formed humanitarian group for Kachin refugees have organized a door-to-door and church collections of donation among local Chin churches and individuals.

It is estimated that there are more than 1,200 Chins living in Norway, most of them being resettled as refugees from Malaysia under the UNHCR resettlement programme after having fled various forms of brutalities and rights violations committed by Burma Army soldiers in Chin State.

Fleeing Thai floods: Burmese migrant's story of extortion, threats



Migrant workers from Myanmar sort fish after unloading the catch from a boat at the port of Mahachai, near Bangkok September 24, 2011. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun



BANGKOK (AlertNet) – When flood waters threatened to engulf *Tun Win's home close to the Thai capital Bangkok, he decided it was time to escape and avoid the worst flooding the country has seen in half a century.

A migrant from neighbouring Myanmar, the 22-year-old made plans to travel to Mae Sot and stay with some family in the bustling  town in northwest Thailand, which has become the main gateway for refugees and migrants from the former Burma.

Tun Win almost didn't make it. His journey was punctuated by intimidation, extortion and physical abuse by Thai officials and a broker who demanded money for his release with five others.

"We'd heard of extortion and threats faced by migrants before we left but we couldn't stay in Bangkok," Tun Win, who declined to give his real name, told AlertNet by phone from from Mae Sot.

“We also know we might get deported if we are arrested but we thought at least we would get to see our families in Myanmar then,” he added.   

Thailand is battling to deal with flooding that has killed more than 500 people and disrupted the lives of 2.45 million. The disaster is the first big test for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra, who took over this year.

Yet the government has already faced criticism for ignoring migrant workers caught up in the disaster.

Many are in Thailand illegally, but even the legitimate migrants fear arrest or becoming victims of extortion by Thai and Burmese border officials and opportunist mafia gangs. Many of those with legal documents are not allowed to leave their province of employment.

"The Thai Government has up until now made no genuine effort at a policy level to respond to the plight of migrant flood victims," said Andy Hall, a migration policy expert at the Mahidol University.

The government has failed to assist migrants trapped in houses and factories or encourage them to travel to and stay in the only official shelter provided, he said.

"The Thai government has through its inaction opened the way for brokers and other individuals to profit from the desperate plight of confused and homeless migrant flood victims," he told AlertNet.

EXTORTION

Tun Win left Mahachai - an industrial area in Samut Sakan province next to Bangkok that is home to large numbers of both legal and illegal workers from Myanmar – with his younger brother and four female friends.

They left by bus just before midnight on Nov. 3. But the next morning, at a checkpoint before Mae Sot, they were ordered to get off the bus by the police.

"The police accused us of being illegal aliens because the girls only had work permits which do not allow them to travel outside of Pathum Thani province," Tun Win said.

"I showed my student card which is still valid and explained to them that we’re flood victims and just wanted to go to Mae Sot to stay with our families during this time but the official would not listen."

After agreeing to pay 300 baht (about $10) each, a policeman drove the group to Mae Sot - where he passed them on to a Thai broker.

TRAPPED

There they were targeted for extortion again.

The broker demanded 1,000 baht each (about $33) for their release, threatening to take them to the immigration office and then to ethnic militia camps in Myanmar unless they paid up.

Negotiations to reduce the sum proved futile. Tun Win and his brother paid and were released but the broker then told the four women they would now have to pay 5,000 baht in total.

"It was too much money and they refused," Tun Win said. "But the broker didn't take them to the immigration office either. They were just trapped in the house and their mobile phones were confiscated."

One girl managed to hide her phone and made contact with Tun Win. By then it was evening.

"It was already dark and we were worried something would happen to them so we approached the People's Volunteer Association – a Mae Sot-based organisation helping migrants – and went to the police."

NGO workers and the police confronted the broker, who released the women and returned the men their money, but not before repeatedly slapping the girl whose phone was used for communication.

“When the girl told us afterwards what happened, we thought such abuse shouldn't occur and went to the police again," Tun Win said.

But they had all but given up hope of any legal proceedings against either the broker or the check point official.

"I think the police and the broker negotiated something that night. We haven’t heard anything about it since,” Tun Win said.

* Name has been changed to protect the identity.