Youth refugees taught basic English in three-month language programme

TWENTY-two-year old Siti Zubaidah has just picked up English, thanks to the Project Self-Help, which is a collaboration between HELP University and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Siti, a Myanmar refugee who has been in Malaysia since 2008, is one of 92 students from the project’s first batch which was launched in September 2011. T

he young lady, who lives in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, felt that the three-month English language programme had made her confident in the language.She can now write and read more confidently than she could ever do before the programme.

“I also liked my teachers. They taught like a friend. My favourite teacher is Miss Yee Li Lian. She was firm yet caring,” said Siti who moved from level four to level five during the three-month programme.

She has now moved on to skill-based classes that is also part of Project Self-Help and Siti has opted to learn culinary art.

The other choice is the basic of information technology and there are more options to come.

“I have a dream. I want to run a food business one day,” added Siti.

The Project Self-Help was envisioned with people like Siti on mind.

The on-going project would enable refugees to gain some skills that will help them to earn an income and live independently regardless of their circumstances, and provide them with dignity and self-respect.

HELP International Corporations corporate planning and investor relations executive director Adam Chan said there were 28,000 youth refugees in the country and most of them were from Myanmar.

He added that most did have some faith-based schools in their own communities here but it was not in a school environment and many of them had not been to a proper school.

Chan said the project’s English language training, which was more interactive by nature, had succeeded in helping the students, who were mostly between the ages of 16 and 20.

“They have improved their English and are more confident with others. Third party’s observation is that they are amazed at the students’ improvement. This has prompted other parents to also send their children,” explained Chan.

To ensure a low drop-out rate, every applicant is screened through an interview process which gives the project coordinators an opportunity to gauge the applicant’s proficiency level and dedication.

They are then given a test to be streamed into levels as there are four levels based on their English proficiency.

“The basic idea is to equip these refugee children with the English language and a basic skill so they can survive. It is a great tool for them when they are relocated to a third country,” added Chan.

The teachers for the programmes vary from volunteers, independent teachers to HELP university teachers.

“The teaching method is really up to the teachers although there is a syllabus. Some teachers use newspaper and magazine articles to teach, while some use audio help,” he said.

The project’s second batch of students start their classes in March.

Chan said funding for the project was raised from time to time. The estimated cost per student for a three-month course was RM500.

“Money is not so much for the lecturers but it’s more for the study materials,” he added.

To raise funds for the project, HELP University is presenting The Canticle Singers in a charity concert today and tomorrow at the university’s conference hall.

Titled Odds and Ends, the concert is an arrangement of solo duets and choral songs. Admission is by donation. Tickets for the public cost RM50 each.

For detail, contact 012-287 2686.

Source : TheStarOnline

6P: Gross Attacks On Migrants & Refugees For Failures By The State 4

Dr Irene Fernandez - Tenaganita Wednesday, 22 February 2012 15:30

The recent status report given by the Home Ministry together with the new deadline for April 10 2012 reveals that out of the 1.3 million undocumented workers registered into the biometric system, 1 million or more still remain as undocumented workers with no work permits or permits rejected by the Immigration department. It is indeed a clear sign of a program doomed to fail. The 6P program is hailed by the government as an effective means to resolve the problem of ‘illegal migrants and workers’ in Malaysia. There are two problematic premises here: Firstly, it places the burden of proof of her legality of stay in Malaysia on the migrant and refugee, who in actual fact has no control over existing legislation and labour practices that render him/her undocumented., Secondly, it reinforces the inhumane notion that any person without adequate administrative documents is not worthy of existing (illegal), and should be treated with the harshest of punishments, including torture (whipping), restriction of fundamental freedoms (detention) and forced return. The reality, however, is that in the case of migrant workers, through a system that facilitates corruption by agents and employers, institutionalized labour trafficking through the practice of outsourcing, and widespread cheating by recruitment agents, 80% of migrants become undocumented in Malaysia. The power to renew the work permit also lies with the employer or the agent, not the migrant, but the current enforcement and legal framework’ holds the migrant accountable when employers shirk their responsibilities. In the case of refugees, an absence of a legal framework to recognize and protect refugees renders them ‘undocumented’. Almost 100, 000 refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while tens of thousands more wait in line to seek asylum. Without any legislation or comprehensive policies to protect the rights of refugees, genuine asylum-seekers who have yet to be registered with UNHCR are treated as criminals who have breached Immigration laws; while in the case of registered refugees, enforcement officers arbitrarily either acknowledge or reject their UNHCR-issued documents. In both instances, refugees in Malaysia are subjected to arrest, detention, even whipping and deportation (a violation of the international principle of non-refoulement). The State renders the refugee ‘undocumented’ – the State therefore must be held accountable, not the refugee. The Malaysian government is overdue in rectifying this institutionalized breach of human rights. In addition to these notoriously unjust premises of the 6P, the implementation of the programme has thus far been chaotic and lacking in transparency and accountability. The Home Minister has also been bullish and bloating in a force of power; stating that 4 million enforcement personnel, including 2.8 million civilians clothed as RELA are waiting to pounce on migrants (a threat also on the refugee community). The fear and terror is intense in the migrant and refugee community. On 11th February 2012 (four days before the then deadline of 15th February), between 100 to 200 migrants (including refugees) were arrested near Pasar Seni (Central Market), Kuala Lumpur. Eyewitnesses state that immigration officers placed ‘yellow tags’ on the migrants and refugees, before carting them away into 4 Immigration trucks. Despite contacting the Immigration Department for more information, Tenaganita (but more importantly, the migrants & refugees) do not know the reasons for their arrest; there is no transparency in the numbers of migrants and refugees arrested, nor do we know where they are detained. Mahmood Adam, Secretary-General of the Home Ministry in a press statement issued on 14th February 2012 stated that 94,856 migrants have been deported since the 6P programme began. No further information was provided about these migrants; what are their nationalities? Why were they deported? Are they persons of concern / asylum seekers? We’ve received unconfirmed reports that there may be detainees from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Kashmir currently in the KLIA Depot – are they potential asylum seekers waiting to be deported? These questions are even more urgent in the context of Malaysia flagrantly endangering the lives of asylum seekers, as clearly seen in the rapid deportation of Hamza Kashgari, the Saudi Arabian asylum seeker (2012) and in the deportation of 11 Uighur refugees back to China (2011). The guise of a ‘migration management programme’ to deport persons of concern to the international community cannot continue, and the Malaysian government must meet the demands of transparency and accountability, as its actions have detrimental consequences to the lives of people. The lack of transparency, clarity and goodwill throughout the 6P programme has not only created anxiety among migrants, refugees and even employers, but it has also swung the doors for corruption wide open. As of December 2011, 2.6 million migrants came forward to register under the 6P, half of whom were undocumented migrants. Despite the uncertainties, migrants have demonstrated a clear willingness to ‘regularize’ their status in Malaysia. Many migrants have paid the initial RM300 to agents for registration under the biometric system (an amount sanctioned by the Malaysian government, before it was reduced to RM35 amidst criticism) and then between RM3000 to RM4000 for work permits (also to agents). According to the Home Ministry, however, only 379,020 undocumented migrants working for 33,053 employers have been legalized. More than 70% remain undocumented – not only is this a colossal waste of money for the 1 million migrants who registered under the programme, it also raises serious questions as to where (or to whom) this money has been channeled to. This also leaves these 1 million migrants in a state of terrifying limbo, as the marching drums of 4 million enforcement officers coming their way grow louder. Some agents (approved by the Home Ministry) have also expressed frustration with this 6P programme. The applications for work permits (for migrant workers) have been rejected because the factories are either operating illegally or are built on land designated for agriculture. Illegal factories are not the fault of the workers, but this rejection of applications will undoubtedly affect migrants who will be the target of arrest and detention. It is the responsibility of the government to address the issue of illegal factories, which is a national phenomena and a consequence of corruption. Migrants should not be targeted for this failure of the State to practice good governance. Before any of these problems are addressed, our sources inform us that new recruitment of migrant workers from Bangladesh will begin in June 2012, especially for placements in FELDA schemes. Why is there a need for new recruitment when more than a million migrants are registered and waiting to be ‘regularised’? Will the failure of this amnesty program called 6P be the rationale for the government to approve new recruitment of migrant workers? And will the recruitment of migrants be used again as a means for political financing as revealed in the graft trial of the Director-General of Immigration in 2007? Understanding that lists of names and fingerprints do not rectify the structural flaws in our migration system, the 6P begs the question if there is a greater incentive to maintaining the status quo. The Home Minister seems to be in a state of self-inflicted paralysis when it comes to accountability and addressing the embedded corruption in our migration system. The government appears intent in continuing this oppressive and corrupt system that continuously profits from the poor and vulnerable. Through this, there is continued disrespect for fundamental human rights of people especially migrants and refugees. Tenaganita therefore calls for: 1. The immediate halt to the crackdown on migrants and refugees 2. The release of detainees, and an end to forced deportations of migrants and refugees 3. A systematic plan to address the structural flaws in our migration system, including enacting legalisation to recognize refugees and a comprehensive rights-based policy for the recruitment, placement and employment of migrants and refugees in Malaysia. We also firmly call for an immediate end to the attacks on migrants and refugees for the failures of the State. DR IRENE FERNANDEZ - Executive Director of Tenaganita (The views expressed above belongs to the author in its entirety and does not represent the opinion of Malaysian Mirror in any way)

Dr Irene Fernandez - Tenaganita Wednesday, 22 February 2012 15:30

The recent status report given by the Home Ministry together with the new deadline for April 10 2012 reveals that out of the 1.3 million undocumented workers registered into the biometric system, 1 million or more still remain as undocumented workers with no work permits or permits rejected by the Immigration department. It is indeed a clear sign of a program doomed to fail. The 6P program is hailed by the government as an effective means to resolve the problem of ‘illegal migrants and workers’ in Malaysia. There are two problematic premises here: Firstly, it places the burden of proof of her legality of stay in Malaysia on the migrant and refugee, who in actual fact has no control over existing legislation and labour practices that render him/her undocumented., Secondly, it reinforces the inhumane notion that any person without adequate administrative documents is not worthy of existing (illegal), and should be treated with the harshest of punishments, including torture (whipping), restriction of fundamental freedoms (detention) and forced return. The reality, however, is that in the case of migrant workers, through a system that facilitates corruption by agents and employers, institutionalized labour trafficking through the practice of outsourcing, and widespread cheating by recruitment agents, 80% of migrants become undocumented in Malaysia. The power to renew the work permit also lies with the employer or the agent, not the migrant, but the current enforcement and legal framework’ holds the migrant accountable when employers shirk their responsibilities. In the case of refugees, an absence of a legal framework to recognize and protect refugees renders them ‘undocumented’. Almost 100, 000 refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while tens of thousands more wait in line to seek asylum. Without any legislation or comprehensive policies to protect the rights of refugees, genuine asylum-seekers who have yet to be registered with UNHCR are treated as criminals who have breached Immigration laws; while in the case of registered refugees, enforcement officers arbitrarily either acknowledge or reject their UNHCR-issued documents. In both instances, refugees in Malaysia are subjected to arrest, detention, even whipping and deportation (a violation of the international principle of non-refoulement). The State renders the refugee ‘undocumented’ – the State therefore must be held accountable, not the refugee. The Malaysian government is overdue in rectifying this institutionalized breach of human rights. In addition to these notoriously unjust premises of the 6P, the implementation of the programme has thus far been chaotic and lacking in transparency and accountability. The Home Minister has also been bullish and bloating in a force of power; stating that 4 million enforcement personnel, including 2.8 million civilians clothed as RELA are waiting to pounce on migrants (a threat also on the refugee community). The fear and terror is intense in the migrant and refugee community. On 11th February 2012 (four days before the then deadline of 15th February), between 100 to 200 migrants (including refugees) were arrested near Pasar Seni (Central Market), Kuala Lumpur. Eyewitnesses state that immigration officers placed ‘yellow tags’ on the migrants and refugees, before carting them away into 4 Immigration trucks. Despite contacting the Immigration Department for more information, Tenaganita (but more importantly, the migrants & refugees) do not know the reasons for their arrest; there is no transparency in the numbers of migrants and refugees arrested, nor do we know where they are detained. Mahmood Adam, Secretary-General of the Home Ministry in a press statement issued on 14th February 2012 stated that 94,856 migrants have been deported since the 6P programme began. No further information was provided about these migrants; what are their nationalities? Why were they deported? Are they persons of concern / asylum seekers? We’ve received unconfirmed reports that there may be detainees from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Kashmir currently in the KLIA Depot – are they potential asylum seekers waiting to be deported? These questions are even more urgent in the context of Malaysia flagrantly endangering the lives of asylum seekers, as clearly seen in the rapid deportation of Hamza Kashgari, the Saudi Arabian asylum seeker (2012) and in the deportation of 11 Uighur refugees back to China (2011). The guise of a ‘migration management programme’ to deport persons of concern to the international community cannot continue, and the Malaysian government must meet the demands of transparency and accountability, as its actions have detrimental consequences to the lives of people. The lack of transparency, clarity and goodwill throughout the 6P programme has not only created anxiety among migrants, refugees and even employers, but it has also swung the doors for corruption wide open. As of December 2011, 2.6 million migrants came forward to register under the 6P, half of whom were undocumented migrants. Despite the uncertainties, migrants have demonstrated a clear willingness to ‘regularize’ their status in Malaysia. Many migrants have paid the initial RM300 to agents for registration under the biometric system (an amount sanctioned by the Malaysian government, before it was reduced to RM35 amidst criticism) and then between RM3000 to RM4000 for work permits (also to agents). According to the Home Ministry, however, only 379,020 undocumented migrants working for 33,053 employers have been legalized. More than 70% remain undocumented – not only is this a colossal waste of money for the 1 million migrants who registered under the programme, it also raises serious questions as to where (or to whom) this money has been channeled to. This also leaves these 1 million migrants in a state of terrifying limbo, as the marching drums of 4 million enforcement officers coming their way grow louder. Some agents (approved by the Home Ministry) have also expressed frustration with this 6P programme. The applications for work permits (for migrant workers) have been rejected because the factories are either operating illegally or are built on land designated for agriculture. Illegal factories are not the fault of the workers, but this rejection of applications will undoubtedly affect migrants who will be the target of arrest and detention. It is the responsibility of the government to address the issue of illegal factories, which is a national phenomena and a consequence of corruption. Migrants should not be targeted for this failure of the State to practice good governance. Before any of these problems are addressed, our sources inform us that new recruitment of migrant workers from Bangladesh will begin in June 2012, especially for placements in FELDA schemes. Why is there a need for new recruitment when more than a million migrants are registered and waiting to be ‘regularised’? Will the failure of this amnesty program called 6P be the rationale for the government to approve new recruitment of migrant workers? And will the recruitment of migrants be used again as a means for political financing as revealed in the graft trial of the Director-General of Immigration in 2007? Understanding that lists of names and fingerprints do not rectify the structural flaws in our migration system, the 6P begs the question if there is a greater incentive to maintaining the status quo. The Home Minister seems to be in a state of self-inflicted paralysis when it comes to accountability and addressing the embedded corruption in our migration system. The government appears intent in continuing this oppressive and corrupt system that continuously profits from the poor and vulnerable. Through this, there is continued disrespect for fundamental human rights of people especially migrants and refugees. Tenaganita therefore calls for: 1. The immediate halt to the crackdown on migrants and refugees 2. The release of detainees, and an end to forced deportations of migrants and refugees 3. A systematic plan to address the structural flaws in our migration system, including enacting legalisation to recognize refugees and a comprehensive rights-based policy for the recruitment, placement and employment of migrants and refugees in Malaysia. We also firmly call for an immediate end to the attacks on migrants and refugees for the failures of the State. DR IRENE FERNANDEZ - Executive Director of Tenaganita (The views expressed above belongs to the author in its entirety and does not represent the opinion of Malaysian Mirror in any way) Source : http://malaysianmirror.com/

Refugees fear mass deportation

They fear being caught up in the impending crackdown on illegal workers.

PETALING JAYA: Refugees and asylum seekers have been allegedly sacked by their bosses with the introduction of the 6P amnesty programme, and they fear an impending crackdown.

Myanmarese asylum seeker Patrick Sang claimed that local employers didn’t want to go through the trouble of registering this group with the Immigration Department.

“Since the news of the major crackdowns and accompanying measures, many of the refugees and asylum seekers and their families have been fired by their bosses.”

“They lost their jobs…because employers didn’t register them under the 6P programme,” he told reporters today at Tenaganita’s office.

Sang was referring to the government’s 6P amnesty programme which started last June to legalise illegal foreign workers.

Thus far, only 379,020 illegal foreign workers have been legalised by the Immigration Department.

One million undocumented individuals, however, have either no work permits or have seen them rejected thus far.

A total of 94,856 migrants have been deported to their home countries since the programme’s inception.

Refugees and asylum seekers at risk

Some have speculated that the programme, which has been extended to April 10, will see a crackdown on migrant workers who have not yet been legalised by the government.

Refugees and asylum seekers are especially at risk, as they are not recognised as such in Malaysia. Instead, they are classified by the government as undocumented individuals.

They are especially concerned with the federal government boasting a four-million-enforcement-agent deployment against illegals after programme’s deadline.

This, according to Sang, was a very real fear for asylum seekers like him who face detention and deportation.

“It seem like there’s going to be huge crackdown (after April 10). Why don’t they just postpone the crackdown? If they want to exercise it, do it after all the refugees and asylum seekers are recognised.”

“If the registration for the refugee does not take place before April 10, all the refugees and asylum seekers are going to be in big trouble.”

“It heightens our fear. (If they register us) we don’t have to live with this fear daily,” he said.

Even a registration in March for nearly 100,000 refugees would be too late, Sang added. He said that it would take two or three months to fully register and legalise an individual.

Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez called for an immediate halt on the impending crackdown on migrants and refugees.

She also asked for migrant and refugee detainees to be released, as well as the government to stop deporting them.

Criticising the 6P programme, Fernandez said that a systematic plan was needed to address the “structural flaws” in the country’s migration system.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/

Myanmar refugees not eligible for 6P programme

MENTAKAB: Refugees from Myanmar are not eligible for the Comprehensive Legalisation Programme for Illegal Immigrants (6P), Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said Friday.

This, he said, was because they were covered and protected under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government could not interfere into their affairs.

"According to the UNHCR law, they are placed in the country temporarily pending their transfer to countries which are willing to accept them.

"These refugees are not allowed to work as their welfare is being taken care of by UNHCR," he added.

He was responding to complaints from the Myanmar refugees who claimed they had been laid off by employers who wanted to avoid problems with the Immigration Department in the course of registering them for the 6P programme. Subramaniam said the refugees could not blame the government for the problem.

"They have to discuss this problem (laid off) with the Home Ministry because if they really want to work, they have to get special permission from the Home Ministry," he told reporters after presenting personal identification documents under the MyDaftar campaign here on Friday.

He said the 6P programme was only for illegal immigrants.

Source : TheStarOnline

Myammar women refugees band together to help each other

Myammar women refugees are banding together to lift up their spirits amid harsh living conditions here.

MYAMMAR refugee Tanda Htun is no stranger to hardship. It has been six years since the 30-year-old Myammar woman fled the military regime back in her home country, and still she continues to live with fear and uncertainty. In Malaysia, Tanda has worked in restaurants and polished cars at a car wash, and she constantly worries about being arrested by the police again.

“I was a social worker in Myammar, promoting Mon culture. But the government doesn’t allow this, they don’t want you to practise your culture,” says Tanda.

Although Tanda lives with five other families in a small flat here, and is unsure of what her future holds, she says life here is still better than in Myammar.

Tanda is one of the 28,500 registered women refugees from Myammar who fled to Malaysia to escape persecution under the military rule. They are hoping to be repatriated to a third country which will grant them permanent residence. However, there is no telling when and if they will eventually be repatriated. In the meantime, they live here and try to eke out a living.

Lighter and happier: Apar working the weaving loom with her six-month-old daughter.

Malaysia is not a signatory of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which recognises the rights of refugees and accords them protection. Under Malaysian law, there is no distinction between a refugee and an illegal immigrant. Even if they have registered with the United Nations Refugee Centre (UNHCR) in Malaysia, they have no access to legal employement or formal education. They can be detained, locked up and deported even if they hold a UNHCR card.

“Many of the women are depressed or show signs of depression,” says Elodie Voisin, Volunteer Coordinator at Tanma Federation, a union of three Myammar women refugee groups based in Kuala Lumpur. “They cannot eat, they cannot sleep, they feel hopeless and live in fear every day.”

Tanma Federeration

There are about 98,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. About 88,500 are Myammar nationals, and they are usually divided according to their ethnic groups. There is a support network within these communities, and they have initiatives to help their countrymen cope with life here. This includes setting up schools for the children, and income-generating projects for the women. One of these organisations is Tanma Federation, whose mission is to create a safe place for Myammar women to earn an income, protect their rights and empower them through skills learning programmes.

Tanma means “strength” in the Myammar language. Since its inception in 2010, the organisation has managed to unite and empower some 200 Myammar refugee women in Malaysia.

Tanda is now concentrated on making soap and massage oil based on traditional Mon recipes at Kaoprise, one of the three livelihood projects in the Tanma Federation.

Many Mon people are farmers who live far away from modern healthcare facilities, they are well-versed in the art of self-remedy. All Kaoprise products are organic and made from plant-based ingredients such as lemon grass, coconut oil and vanilla.

“The coconut oil is what my mother used on me when I was young. It is good for the skin and the hair,” says Tanda.

The other two groups in Tanma are Mang Tha (run by the Alliance of Chin Refugees) and the Chin Women’s Organisation (CWO). Mang Tha makes sewn and woven products such as soft bags, pouches, baby slings, passport holders and bibs – they can basically make anything that people bring to them.

Their best-selling item is the baby ring sling which is already being sold in certain baby shops in the Klang Valley. You will recognise it by the unique Chin fabric it is made of. All Mang Tha products are made from this unique fabric which is woven in the centre itself. Apar who heads Mang Tha, with her baby in her arms, shows how a woman winds yarn with a machine made from a bicycle wheel. “Then they do the weaving in there,” she says, pointing to a large wooden contraption that takes up an entire room.

Beyond money

Tanma provides the women with more than a safe place to earn income.

“Before Tanma, the women stayed at home because they were afraid to work outside as they worried about being caught by Rela or the police,” said Apar. “But after coming to Mang Tha they are happier, they make new friends and can share how they feel.”

Tanma is housed in a shoplot in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. They do not only weave cloth and make soap to sell, but also attend classes. There are English lessons, and they also learn communication, leadership, and money management skills. Women who used to run out of the room because someone was watching them speak are now discussing issues such as human rights, gender-based violence and Fair Trade marketing.

The Tanma centres are also places where the women could gather and meet up with other Myammar women.

Many of these Myammar women also bear the responsibilty of looking after their children. It is not uncommon to find a few refugee children at the centre after school or babies being passed around while their mothers work. The women describe coming to the centre and feeling “lighter and happier.”

“We forget our stress (at home), to come to the centre is very good,” says Tanda.

For her, the most valuable thing she has gained from Tanma is confidence. She loves the training programmes and has picked up many skills. “I now know how to coach other women, to counsel people, to write proposals and to manage women’s projects,” she says.

She put these skills to practise in leading Kaoprise. “Now, even the men call me when they want to discuss financial matters, or want to know how to solve certain problems.”

Tanma also runs classes to help Myammar couples deal with violence.

For many Myammar refugees, home is a cramped flat shared with four or five other families, and even single men. In this environment, it is not uncommon for couples to fight due to jealousy and suspected infidelities. With the woman’s family and relatives far away, the men also tend to be more controlling over their wives.

“In Myanmar, the men want to see food and water on the table ready when they come home from work. And here, it is the same. They don’t want the women to go out for social activities, classes or training. They want the women to cook and clean the house.”

When the women start to earn income in cooperatives such as Tanma, the husbands can get violent. This is why the gender-based violence training programmes are very important. They help ease the conflict between husband and wife, and make it easier and safer for the women to work. It also empowers the women to speak out if they are victims of abuse, when they would previously have just kept quiet and accepted it as part of their culture.

Supporting the business

Tanma now sells its products in churches and bazaars; they do not have fixed retail outlets. They are supported by various expatriate groups and their products are popular at Fair Trade shops in France and Belgium. However, the women prefer to focus on the local market. “We want to reach Malaysian people,” says Elodie. “We want to spread the message that ‘we are here, we need help’.”

Tanma invites people to help by sharing any skills the women could learn, volunteering some time to drive the women to sales venues or discuss partnerships on how they could work together. “We want to coax Malaysians to work with us. Treat us like people, not refugees.” says Tanda.

Tanma operates out of a few shop lots situated in Pudu, where many Myammar refugees have set up home. Sometimes a flat with a kitchen and a bathroom is shared by seven families. It might be cheaper to live further away but change is hard.

“The community is here. The community centre, the schools and the men work nearby. If anything should happen, they have friends here, they feel safe,” says Elodie.

Tanma products can be purchased at Tiny Tapir (Bangsar Village II Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur) or at online store, elevyn.com. For more information, please call 014-666 1435 or 03-7770 3671, or visit tanmawomen.org or on Facebook at Tanma Federation.

They will also be setting up stall at Stand Out, an International Women’s Day Fundraiser event on March 8 from 7-11pm, at Doppel Cafe, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur.

Source : TheStar Online

Chin Learning Center Won First Prize for Neighbourhood Cleaning Competition in Malaysia

19 February 2012: The Chin Diamond Learning Center, a community-based informal school run by Chin refugees in Malaysia, has won the first prize of community sanitation service competition organized by the UNHCR's Social Protection Fund (SPF).

Out of the total 23 groups participating in a neighbourhood cleaning-up service as a part of a competition under the Jom Gotong-Royong programme, the Chin Diamond Learning Center received the highest score for best performance.  

In a ceremony held at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur, the first prize of 3,000 Ringgits was presented to the Chin Diamond Learning Center, with the second award to the Kachin refugee community and the third to the Zomi Education Center.

Thanking UNHCR for organizing the programme, leader of the Chin Diamond Learning Center said their Malaysian neighbourhood was so much impressed with the voluntary cleaning services, adding: "They personally came out and helped us. Sometimes, they served us lunch and even provided their cars. The prize is due to parts of their support."

The clean-up service, which is aimed for refugees from other countries to give back to the local community, included sweeping the roadside, clearing up the drains and collecting rubbishes in the surrounding areas.

Started in November last year, the competition ended in January 2012 with UNHCR members conducting an evaluation on conditions at the sites of the clean-up in a bid to make decisions on the winner.

Last December, Lal Siam Mawi, of the Chin Disciplinary Action Committee (CDAC), was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying that the team has been cleaning up the area before the competition.

There are about 86,000 refugees coming from Burma out of an estimated total of 95,000 in Malaysia, of which over 45,000 are of Chin ethnicity.

World Relief organization welcomes first refugee family to Oshkosh

When David Piang, all earnest and young and handsome, blurted in a Starbucks coffee shop in Oshkosh Wednesday afternoon, “I have to help. I know how they feel. They are excited now,” he meant it.

He was shy and serious at first, but his face lit up when he said the words and anticipated the part he would play in welcoming a Burmese refugee family to Oshkosh that night.

Piang was a refugee from Myanmar, also known as Burma, three years ago who lived first in Spokane, Wash., for two years before coming to Oshkosh a year ago. He knows how Wai Hinn Oo, 32, and his wife, Nang Shwe Thein, and their 2-year-old daughter Christina Jolie feel — excitement mixed with fear of the unknown along with a huge amount of anticipation for a chance at a good life sums it up.

Piang had just finished his job for the day at Pick N Save, where he makes sushi, when he made the stop at Starbucks. He talked about the part he would play in welcoming the members of the refugee family who were expected to arrive on a flight that evening at Outagamie Regional Airport. Piang would act as an interpreter.

“Before we came to this country we had a dream. We studied about America in school. We were very excited to come to the United States. Everything changed,” he said in careful English.

The language barrier is the hardest part for refugees, Piang said. He said he intended to encourage this new family to go to school to learn the language.

He made arrangements for him and his wife Di Dim to ride along with the welcoming party that would travel to the Appleton airport that night.

Oshkosh has become the home of hundreds of refugees from other parts of the world – Sudan, Iraq, Somalia and Laos. People from these lands came to Oshkosh under the auspices of humanitarian organizations such as World Relief, Shelter Now International and Catholic Diocese of Green Bay’s Catholic Charities Resettlement a and Immigration Services.

They came to escape persecution for ethnic, political or religious reasons.

Piang, a member of the Chin tribe, fled the country of his birth nearly seven years ago during a time of mounting military activity. 

Source : http://www.thenorthwestern.com

Concert in aid of young refugees

HELP University in collaboration with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) under Project Self-Help will be organising a charity concert by the Canticle Singers on Feb 24 and 25. The event will raise funds to provide free educational opportunities for young refugees in Malaysia.

This project is ongoing to enable refugees to gain some skills that will enable them to earn an income and live independently regardless of their circumstances, and provide them with dignity and self-respect.

Giving pointers : A Project Self- Help class being conducted for refugees.

HELP University has designed a special programme for the refugees where they attend practical classes in a few areas such as English, hospitality, culinary skills, auto mechanics and multimedia.

Classes are ongoing for the refugees but funds are needed so more can attend the classes which are conducted by experienced tutors.

To raise funds for this Project Self-Help, HELP University has arranged a musical evening with the Canticle Singers titled “Odds and Ends”, an arrangement of solo duets and choral songs for the entertainment of the public who are invited to this event.

Those who enjoy music are invited to HELP University, Conference Hall, BZ-2, Pusat Bandar Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. 

Source : TheStar

Chin Community celebrates their culture

021812ChinCelebration2 Van Peng, front and Ngun Hlei Par perform a skit that shows traditional hunting during the cultural demonstration at a celebration of the 65th Chin National Day at King Edward Public School.

David Bebee/Record staff

KITCHENER — Tucked vulnerably between India and Bangladesh and sitting at the western edge of Burma, also called Myanmar, the tiny state of Chin has struggled for centuries to maintain their culture and independence. Theirs is a story of a people who continue to be dominated by more powerful forces yet steadfastly refuse to be assimilated.

Every February for the past six years, a small cluster of Chin people gather in Kitchener to celebrate Chin National Day which falls on Feb. 20, though this year’s celebration took place Saturday at King Edward Public School’s auditorium.

Victor Khambil, president of the K-W Chin Community and a staunch supporter of both his people and their culture said there are only 253 Chins in the region and that national day celebrations are important for their children, to keep their culture alive.

The day’s festivities were filled with food, music, dance and dark-eyed children darting around the halls and among the adults. What was most striking was the clothing, a vivid array of reds, oranges, yellows and blues with women wearing sometimes two gold belts and skirts swinging wildly with strands of beads. Khambil explained, there are many dialects among his people – he speaks nine - and each village has it’s own traditional fabric colours and patterns.

“When we get together, it’s very colourful,” he said, a wide sash of brilliantly coloured cloth tied across one shoulder and draping to his knees, a traditional style for men.

Khambil is not surprised few people in Waterloo Region are familiar with Chin culture, given their small population. The first Chin arrived in the region in 2003 and few have followed, largely because of immigration restrictions.

“All of us are refugees,” he said, adding his fellow Chins have limited English skills so they end up in low-skilled positions.

Khambil arrived in Canada from Malaysia in 2004, settling first in Thunder Bay where he attended college for two years. Today, he spends much of his time helping his people, including returning to Malaysia where 50,000 Chin live as refugees, as they do in India where he estimates there are 60,000 refugees.

“There are seven states in Burma, Chin is the poorest,” he said, adding that in Burma, their numbers are about 500,000 in the strictly controlled Chin State and that they are “100 percent Christians” in a largely Buddhist society.

As a fiercely independent people, the Chin’s history is one of constant struggle. They came from the plains of Mongolia, migrating south to Burma around 1000 AD. In modern times, the Chins have been controlled by the British, then their borders were divided between Pakistan and India. When the Union of Burma gained independence from the British, they took the Chin territory with them and since then, it’s been a struggle to maintain their identity.

In February, 1948, the Chin were determined to recognize themselves as a democratic nation and so 5,000 gathered from across the Burmese state for the first National Day celebration. Today, any such celebration is banned in Burma.

In Waterloo Region, this year’s celebration marked their sixth and it seemed more like a family reunion. With so few numbers of Chin in the region, Khambil admits everyone knows everyone, then adds with a laugh, “and everyone’s children, and everyone’s house.”

Despite their small numbers, the region’s Chin population attends two different Christian churches, though they often blend their activities.

“We are always together,” he said, happily. 

vhill@therecord.com

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam Tackling Tamil Refugee Crisis in Malaysia Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Transnational-Government-of-Tamil-Eelam-Tackling-3335448.php#ixzz1mdSYBF4Z

Ministers from the transnational Tamil government and human rights lawyers recently completed a fact-finding mission in Malaysia. Tamil refugees testified they have been victim of harassment and intimidation.

New York, New York (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

In January, Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) ministers Muthukumarasamy Ratna, and Alex Doss went to Malaysia, accompanied by David Matas, an international human rights lawyer, to investigate claims of harsh living conditions by Tamil refugees to the Southeast Asian country. The TGTE mission discovered that, while Malaysia has taken some positive steps to address difficulties faced by refugees, Tamils still claim to face discrimination, employment abuse and violence.
The three man delegation worked in connection with a new NGO, the Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee Organization of Malaysia (STROM), dedicated to helping refugees with welfare, education, healthcare, employment, security, and resettlement. They visited the UNHCR, human rights lawyers, and conducted over 250 in-home visits with Tamil refugees. According to the UNHCR, there are 4268 Tamil refugees, overall in Malaysia.
The TGTE Ministry said, “During our fact finding mission, numerous Tamil refugees claimed that exploitation, kidnappings, police harassment, extortion, and rapes have occurred amongst the refugees in Malaysia.” According to STROM, since Tamil refugees are made to sign Malay language documents in which they pledge a return to Sri Lanka, they live with personal uncertainty, anxiety and stress, and fear venturing out on their own.
The group identified a large number of Tamil war widows left with children. Currently, these children are barred from attending schools. “In five to ten years, what would become of them?” asked Minister M. Ratna. Matas added “Though Malaysia is not a signatory country to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it is still subject to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.” The convention provides that children of asylum seekers and refugees shall ‘receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance,’ and will cooperate with the UN in providing those services.
“To date, Malaysia has not taken any steps to protect the rights of the children of refugees. The government should take initiative for their education, as there are over 500 Tamil schools throughout the country to facilitate them,” Matas said.
The TGTE Ministry also reported many cases of refugees not getting paid for working odd jobs. “This seems to be a big problem as they are unable to sustain their families,” the delegation reported. Access to healthcare was another difficulty uncovered by the delegation. Although many have amputated limbs or shrapnel in their body, they are not receiving medical attention, and the Tamil elderly lack access to necessary care.
The Ministry explained, “Tamil refugees in Malaysia are under the risk of being deported back to Sri Lanka, where they face imminent threat to life. Because of their ‘non-legal’ status in the country, many claim to be harassed by the police, and RELA Corps, a civilian volunteer police force. These civilian police are paid an 80 Ringgit incentive per arrest. This can make refugees a target for arrest or extortion.
SUARAM, a Malaysian human rights group, says that the Malaysian government makes things harder for refugees. Malaysia has shown no intention of ratifying the 1951 UNCHR Refugee Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, according to SUARAM. Currently refugees and asylum seekers have no legal status in Malaysia. Even if a refugee is formally registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Malaysian law does not recognize that the country has any obligation to provide protection, according to SUARAM.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Transnational-Government-of-Tamil-Eelam-Tackling-3335448.php#ixzz1mdSTl6JP

Thousands of refugees at risk of arrest in nationwide raid in Malaysia

freemalaysiatoday

Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers are at undue risk of being arrested arrest in the upcoming raids all over Malaysia.

On Saturday afternoon, Feb 11, at the beautiful Central Market and Kota Raya in downtown Kuala Lumpur, while many tourists and locals shopped, more than 100 people (including illegal migrant workers, asylum seekers, and refugees) were arrested for illegally working.

Just 20 minutes after the arrests were finished, one looking at the market would never even have known that anything out of the ordinary had occurred. Onlookers must be unaware of the situation involving many of the arrested and the at risk individuals for arrest.

Approximately 40 of the arrested people were refugees and asylum seekers that came to Malaysia trying to escape the violations of their basic human rights by the Myanmar government.

These refugees and asylum seekers didn’t come to Malaysia to work like many of the immigrants that the ministry recently asked to register under the Illegal Immigrant Comprehensive Settlement Programme (6P).

The 6P doesn’t pertain to the refugees or asylum seekers. The refugees and asylum seekers are simply waiting to be registered with UNHCR and then resettled. The refugees and asylum seekers are more than willing to register with the ministry too, which was stated (at least twice in The Star) would become available early January 2012. No such registration became available.

This registration would have then provided proof of status and exclusion from arrest for these individuals and those at risk in the upcoming raids by Rela, Immigration, and the Malaysian police.

The “Big Sweep” starts this Thursday.

Without the means to support oneself or family, tens of thousands are left to wait. At this time, there is no way to register with UNHCR or the Malaysian government leaving the refugees without proof of status, not allowed to legally work, dormant in their quest for resettlement, and vulnerable to arrest possibly leading to detainment for up to six months for refugees (who are registered with UNHCR) and possibly longer for asylum seekers.

All of the arrested are currently being detained at the KLIA Camp. Action must be taken to stop the wasting of more precious time, resources, and human energy on this undirected attack on innocent people.

The Plight of Burmese Refugees in Malaysia

Posted on February 15, 2012

 

With three inspirational young Burmese refuges attending the ELS CIEP course at Bukit Bintang centre, the students, teachers and staff know well how tough life can be for these natives of the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar. In amazing group effort, the Bukit Bintang students, teachers, staff and corporate ELS management came together to raise funds for United Learning Centre – a volunteer run centre located near Bukit Bintang that provides free daily education and childcare for children of Burmese refugees. Several students and staff visited the centre one rainy afternoon in December and presented the refugees and centre staff with food, toys, sports equipment, educational material and other treats. There were plenty of smiles as the children presented an impromptu art “workshop” for the visitors! 

UN High Commissioner talks refugee issues

Broadcast: 13/02/2012

Reporter: Chris Uhlmann

The United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, is visiting Australia and joins us to discuss the issues facing asylum seekers in Australia and around the world.

Transcript

CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: With the political fight moving to the economy and the weather slowing the steady stream of boat arrivals, there's been a brief lull in the border protection battle. One man who can put Australia's problems in context is former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres. That's because he's been the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 2005. He's on a visit to Australia and I spoke with him earlier from Canberra. 

Antonio Guterres, welcome to the program.

ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: It's a pleasure to be here.

CHRIS UHLMANN: It's the Australian Government's stated policy to engage Malaysia in taking some of the people that are seeking asylum here. What's your view on that?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: Well first of all I think it's important to say that Australia has always been a very important pillar of the international asylum system. Australia has received 750,000 refugees until now. Australia's one of the most successful, if not the most successful resettlement program in the world with a large number of people being successfully integrated in the Australian society. Now, it's also true that if one looks at the number of boat people that comes into Australia, it's a relatively small number compared with other regions of the world, and so to a certain extent we always find these debates a little bit inflated in Australia, and we would prefer, to be honest, that these cases could be resettled - could be processed in the country itself. Having said so, we will always be considering whatever proposal the Australian Government makes of co-operation with other countries in the region, having always one essential concern that all protection problems of the people are adequately met and it was based on that that we have issued our own opinions when consulted about that agreement with Malaysia.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Isn't it the view of the UNHCR that if the Australian Government is to send asylum seekers to another country, that country should be a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: I think that, as I said, our preference is always that these situations are solved in Australia itself. In mechanisms of international cooperation what is important is to guarantee that effective protection is granted, that people cannot - will not be refouled, that people can have humane reception conditions, they will not have arbitrary detention, that they have access to educational systems and employment. And so it's not only a question of knowing whether a country is or not signatory to the Convention, it's a question of knowing whether a country is able to fully respect these protection concerns.

CHRIS UHLMANN: And is Malaysia such a country?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: Well, as I said, we gave our opinion about the conditions that should be met. The agreement did not move forward. If any agreement of this nature will in the future be conceded we will issuing again be issuing our opinions. But I repeat: we consider that the preferred solution is always for countries to process the asylum requests of those that reach their territory.

CHRIS UHLMANN: What about the policy of mandatory detention? There are now more than 1,000 people who have been in detention for more than a year. 750 have spent more than 548 days in detention and 173 have been in detention for more than two years. Is that acceptable?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: Well, that was in the very centre of the very open and constructive discussions today, both with the Prime Minister, the members of the Government and the Opposition. Detention is the area in which we would like improvements to be made in the sense that detention should be more an exception and less a rule and that of course detention conditions should be improved. I saw a commitment of the Government to look seriously into that. Another issue that was discussed has to do with the security assessments and - in order to make the process to be quicker and to introduce some checks and balances into it. So, there are aspects of progress to be made, and as I said, they were in the very centre of the discussions I had to today with the Australian authorities. And very encouraged by the openness in those discussions.

CHRIS UHLMANN: And did you also discuss the 506 children who are in alternative places of detention on Christmas Island and the mainland?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: Yes, we discussed all aspects related to, as I said, detention and security assessments and this is the area where, as I said, we hope that we will be able to witness - some progress has already happened, but there is still a long way to go and I hope that there will be an important movement forward in the near future.

CHRIS UHLMANN: The Opposition says that if it comes to power, it will tow boats back to Indonesia. Is that viable or even safe?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: We have been very clearly saying that we are ready to discuss with any government any policy of international cooperation in this area. But we don't think that pushbacks are a solution. We have clearly opposed pushbacks in the Italian case in the Mediterranean in the recent past before the Libyan crisis, and we think that that is clearly a violation in relation to the '51 Convention. As I said, we would prefer situations like this to be processed in the country. We are ready to consider international mechanisms that meet protection requirements, and we also are concerned with the fact that smugglers and traffickers are very active in the world and with dramatic violation of human rights of the people that suffer their action. 

So, we are ready to also cooperate with states in order to make sure that mechanisms are created to crack down on smugglers and traffickers, and at the same time, to protect people and to grant people access to places where they can be protected without having to suffer the very negative impact of, as I said, the violations of human rights they suffer in the hands of smugglers and traffickers into today's world. Not only in Australia. If you look at numbers, about 6,000 people came to Australia last year, but to Italy and Malta, 58,000; to Yemen, 100,000. So this is a global problem, in which the numbers in Australia are still relatively small and that is why we believe that this debate has sometimes been inflated out of proportion with the reality of the problem in itself and that there is - there should be a scope for a calm and rational approach to these questions in a way that could meet the protection requirements of people.

CHRIS UHLMANN: If I could just ask you a final question as the former Prime Minister of Portugal: how concerned are you that Greece will buckle under this harsh austerity drive?

ANTONIO GUTERRES: Well, I mean, obviously as a - as a European I'm very worried with the present situation in Europe and especially in the southern part of Europe. Levels of unemployment have grown enormously, people are suffering and this is a very challenging situation. And I hope that Europe will be able to put together mechanisms of solidarity and support that will hope these countries cope with huge challenges they are facing and reduce the very negative impact, especially on vulnerable people.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Antonio Guterres, thankyou.

ANTONIO GUTERRES: Thankyou very much.

Malaysia's migration paradox

By Joachim Francis Xavier , February 14, 2012

A large segment of Malaysian society and the government in particular seem clearly xenophobic towards migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees. Yet in an oxymoronic way, Malaysia continues to insist on having these foreigners on her soil.
More recently, Malaysia has thrown its arms wide open to asylum seekers heading to Australia, risking life and limb for a better future. How does one explain this rather bizarre phenomenon?
According to statistics by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur, as of January 2012 there were approximately 97,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the country, with many more asylum seekers knocking on its doors every day for refugees status. Most are from Myanmar (91 per cent) while the rest are from Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
These are men, women and children who have fled their country owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted. They make arduous journeys to countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia in the fervent hope that the host country will offer them protection.
Unfortunately, protection is not exactly what they receive in Malaysia. Asylum seekers and refugees have no legal status here, and while the authorities have assured UNHCR and civil society that they will not be disturbed, asylum seekers and refugees are frequently subjected to brutal raids, arrest, detention and sometimes deportation.Adults are not allowed to work in the formal sector while children of these foreigners have no access to government schools. Most live precariously in rudimentary conditions such as shacks, construction sites and even jungles fringing big cities.
There are also reports of extortion, physical abuse and human trafficking. Not surprisingly, Malaysia has been the subject of numerous international reports documenting the appalling treatment received by asylum seekers and refugees.
The World Refugee Survey commissioned by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in 2007 ranked Malaysia among the ten worst countries for refugees, together with Kenya, Sudan and Bangladesh. A 2010 Amnesty International report recorded numerous cases of foreigner abuse including trafficking by Malaysian security forces at the Thai-Malaysia border, some as recent as 2009.
Due to the frequent raids, detention camps are often filled to breaking point and living conditions are distressing. In an attempt to reduce this overcrowding, Malaysia negotiated with Myanmar a detainee-swap deal, under which Malaysia will return Myanmar detainees in exchange for Malaysian detainees held in Myanmar prisons.
When the deal hit the news in October 2011, it drew heavy fire from civil society including the Malaysia Bar Council and SUARAM, a national human rights NGO. It is unclear if Malaysia went ahead with the deal.
Having observed this xenophobic attitude for over 20 years, any right thinking person would conclude that Malaysia has a serious problem with asylum seekers and refugees. She wants them out. So it is a wonder that Malaysia has now taken a position that suggests she can't get enough of them.
This appears to be the case when one considers how hard Malaysia campaigned for the Australia-Malaysia refugee swap deal, touted as the 'Malaysia solution'. The Australian government signed an agreement with the Malaysian government on 25 July 2011 to ship 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 of its refugees.
Civil societies in both countries were up in arms over the deal and staged a dramatic campaign to bring it down. Both governments defended it with everything they had. However by 31 August 2011 the deal was in tatters when the High Court of Australia declared the agreement 'invalid' for not meeting human rights standards stipulated in Australian law, particularly in relation to the 1951 UN Convention relating to refugees, which Australia is party to but not Malaysia.
The Australian government then decided to move Parliament to amend the law to 'legalise' the deal but all this came to a grinding and embarrassing halt when Prime Minister Julia Gillard abandoned the bill at the last moment on 13 October 2011.
That was not the end of the matter. On 25 January 2012, Malaysian Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein once again offered to host asylum seekers in Malaysia. This time the invitation was made out to any country. He also expressed his disappointment that the Malaysia solution with Australia failed and blamed it on the Australian government.
Why the sudden interest? Could it be that the Malaysian government has begun to see that vulnerable people deserve care and protection? Or is it now clearer to the government that asylum seekers and refugees are not criminals looking to rob its host but people needing help?
If this is the case, then it is odd that Malaysia would continue to deny asylum seekers and refugees a legally recognised status. Maintaining that these are undocumented persons in the eyes of the law clearly debunks any suggestion that Malaysia has seen the light, even a dim one.
Perhaps Malaysia feels it is time to uphold basic human rights for all people regardless of nationality, including the right to protection against persecution. After all, under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Razak, the government has unleashed a slew of reforms that promise to guarantee more civil liberties. Isn't it possible that he would want to extend the same attitude towards foreigners?
If this is so, it is hard to explain Malaysia's objection to signing the 1951 UN Convention relating to refugees, which comprehensively states the standards a country ought to observe if it was serious about respecting the basic rights of asylum seekers and refugees.
It would also be extremely hard to rationalise why Malaysia audaciously objected to human rights provisions in the refugee swap deal when first negotiated with Australia. It is clear that Malaysia is not interested in human rights for asylum seekers and refugees. In fact the converse is probably true.
What about a purely arithmetic rationale? It makes economic sense to take in 800 asylum seekers from Australia and in return send 4000 processed refugees. The numbers are clearly in Malaysia's favor. The net outflow of 3200 unwanted foreigners would reduce the congestion in detention centers and by extension Malaysia's financial burden of hosting them for long periods.
This seems the best explanation for Malaysia's interest in asylum seekers and refugees, until one considers yet another figure: 1 billion ringgit. That is the cost of the deal, reportedly borne so kindly by the Australian government. Considering that asylum seekers are turned away before they touch Australian soil, it is a fair assumption that the bulk of the 1 billion ringgit would be spent in Malaysia.
One could speculate that the money would be utilised to put up new facilities, supply catering, make transportation and security arrangements and purchase equipment. Of course this would necessarily mean Malaysia would have the added burden of having to dole out mouth-watering contracts to salivating companies. Are we to assume that this would be done in a careful and transparent manner underpinned by the principle that the best man with the best price gets the job?
Then there is the inevitable benefit that jobs would be created and the Malaysian economy would receive a boost even if in a small way. Might this have been a motivation underlying Malaysia's sudden love affair with swap deals?
All this talk about swap deals has to be juxtaposed against the fast changing political landscape in Myanmar, the biggest source country of asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia. Myanmar President Thein Sein seems to be a man in a hurry to set things right in his country. It is entirely possible the dream of a peaceful Myanmar may become a reality soon, and with that the unrelenting wave of asylum seekers and refugees is likely to recede.
When that happens, it would not matter why Malaysia courted asylum seekers and refugees, for by that time there would be no more of them knocking on her doors begging for entry. All that would be left would be the hollow cries of feigned love incessantly bouncing off the stained walls of selfishness, greed and xenophobia. 

---

Joachim Francis Xavier is a legally trained social activist who has worked for the Penang Catholic diocese for over ten years. He is chair of the Malaysian Catholic Bishops' Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants. This article originally appeared in UCAN.

Myanmar reforms trigger calls for Malaysia's refugee ratification

Malaysia's human rights activists say that Malaysia must now ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention as the military-junta led Myanmar is now opening up its democratic space and engaging in a dialogue with its most famous opposition icon, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The asylum seekers from Myanmar form the largest group of refugees in Malaysia.According to the official statistics, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR recorded 61,412 Myanmar refugees out of the total 66,137 in 2010.

Pointing out that the Malaysian government had raised concerns that ratifying the Convention would trigger an influx of refugees, human rights workers say that the reforms in Myanmar signals the possibility of refugees returning home.

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They also accuse Malaysia of not wanting to shoulder the responsibility of abiding by an international regulation.

Malaysia recently got into trouble for entering into an agreement with Australia to ship 800 refugees from Australia to Malaysia and resettle 4000 refugees from Malaysia over five years.

The swap plan fell through due to strong protests from human rights workers and lawyers in both countries who alleged Malaysia does not meet the human rights standards stipulated in Australian law.

Malaysian government leaders meanwhile say that the refugees in Malaysia are treated well. Malaysia is also yet to ratify the UN Convention against Torture.

Political observers in the country say that the treatment of refugees would be a sticking point for the government during the general election which is expected to be called by June this year. And meanwhile human rights activists say they would continue lobbying the government to ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to allow the refugees to have a legal status in the country.

Source : http://presstv.com/