As sanctions ease on Myanmar, aid to refugees dries up

International donors are jumping at the chance to aid people inside Myanmar as sanctions ease. But refugees just outside the country are on the losing end.

By William Lloyd George, Contributor / April 23, 2012

Christian Science Monitor

The European Union joined the rest of the West today, loosening trade sanctions against Myanmar (Burma) as a reward for all of its recent reforms. The easing sanctions are widely seen as another positive step for the country.

The recent reforms inside Myanmar may be highlighting the country's promise, however, some nongovernmental organizations providing aid to refugee camps for the past 20 years on the Thai-Myanmar border in Thailand have lost funding, and it's hitting refugees hard.

Nearly 150,000 refugees have fled civil war in eastern Myanmar citing oppression and human rights abuses over the past two decades. They live in tent camps, are not permitted to work in Thailand, are afraid to return to Myanmar, and depend on international aid to survive.

“Before we were in a very difficult position but at least we had the food that we needed,” says Saw Eh So, a refugee. “Now we have to find ways to find the food ourselves.”

While the worldwide economic recession put a significant amount of pressure on donors, forcing them to reduce their support for border-based aid groups, analysts say that providing aid to groups inside Myanmar has become more attractive for donors.

“We have definitely noticed a shift,” says Francois Noisten, who has been working on the border for 20 years treating malaria. While not losing any funding for his organization, Mr. Noisten says, “Funders are more interested in funding inside than they were before.”

RELATED Myanmar cease-fire: Who are the Karen rebels?

According to the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) responsible for providing food rations to the refugees, the reduction in funding has had several negative effects on the camps in Thailand. “The refugees have to go out for food the increased mobility puts them at risk,” Noisten says. Because the refugees are undocumented they are at high risk of being exploited by local communities or forced to return to war zones in Myanmar's Karen state to get work or food. “There are also nutritional issues, they are receiving less nutrition than what they should be receiving,” he says.
Another major concern is the effect the funding reduction has on education. The Karen Refugee Committee - Education Entity (KRC-EE) which oversees education in the camps, has also lost much of its funding for running the education services in the camps.

“Since the funding reductions started we have lost over 60 percent of our annual funding,” said Law Plah Min secretary of the KRC-EE.

“As a result we have been unable to pay teachers accordingly, students do not have the necessary equipment, and the quality of education has been severely reduced,” says Law Plah Min.
Teachers, like most members of the camp haven’t been able to afford food, which has made it difficult for them to keep working in the schools.

“We have lost many good teachers who had to find other jobs in order to survive,” says Law Plah Min.

This might not be a bad thing in the long run. In recent months, Burmese people have enjoyed a sense of freedom many have never experienced before. Western philanthropic groups have been reticent or unable to help fund civil society groups and NGOs working to rebuild Myanmar before now.

The ideal situation is that reform continues, the refugee camps are closed, and refugees return to their homes in Myanmar. However, many NGO workers on the border are concerned that the funding is being withdrawn too quickly, without proper withdrawal plans, and before the refugees are ready to go back.

The ethnic rebels, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), have been fighting against the state since 1949, demanding self-determination and ethnic rights for the Karen people.

According to Saw La Plan, a Karen leader in Umpiem refugee camp, they will only go back when there are signs of durable peace in Karen state. “While there is still fighting, no development, and landmines everywhere we have to stay here,” he says sitting outside his hut. “We just cannot live over there without [the] guarantee of our safety.”

On April 6, the Karen National Union (KNU) completed its second round of cease-fire talks with the Burmese government. For the first time KNU leaders met with Myanmar President Thein Sein, showing that the government might be genuine about wanting to achieve a cease-fire.

According to Sally Thompson from the TBBC, the cease-fires are a step in the right direction. She doesn't see the camps still being open in five years time, but still, she voiced her doubt.
“Cease-fires are only the beginning of a process of peace building and national reconciliation. There must be political dialogue,” Ms. Thompson says.

“It is a long road ahead to build trust after 60 years of conflict. The government will have to deliver significant improvements in the daily lives of people in former conflict areas to demonstrate their sincerity. “

Refugee children have a happy Easter at Novotel KL Read more: Refugee children have a happy Easter at Novotel KL

KUALA LUMPUR: About 85 refugee children under the care of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were treated to Easter lunch by Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

Myanmar children have a sweet taste of Malaysian hospitality at Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon

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The Myanmar children, aged between 6 and 16, were from Kachin Refugee Learning Centre and the United Learning Centre.

The children were treated to a feast of seafood pizzas, hot dogs, spaghetti, muffins, cupcakes, chocolate Easter eggs and more.

They were entertained by clowns, who made them balloons, and Mr Candyman, who made and distributed popcorn.

After lunch, the children decorated muffins and painted Easter eggs.

Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre general manager Jagdish Pantlia said the hotel believed in helping underprivileged children by providing them with a healthy environment to have fun.

"This is the first time we are having refugee children as guests and we are delighted to share the festive spirit of Easter and show them some Malaysian hospitality," said Pantlia.

UNHCR spokesman Yante Ismail was happy to see the children shown such kindness by Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

"These kids were forced to flee their countries by armed conflicts and human rights abuses. Their refugee status  limits them from exposure to the outside world.

"I am grateful to Novotel for inviting them here to experience first-class treatment, explore different cultures and have fun. Kids deserve to play and have fun, it is part of their development," she said.

United Learning Centre head teacher Jonathan Tan Hla said the children were extremely excited as it was their first visit to a hotel.

"Refugee centres like us struggle every day with limited resources. We usually celebrate festive seasons moderately. I hope for more invitations and activities like this for the refugees," he said.

Kachin Refugee Learning Centre student, who is fondly known as Seng Mai, was overwhelmed by the hotel's generosity.

"I enjoyed all the games and activities. I hope there will be more to come," said the 11-year-old.

Another refugee from the same centre, Rachel, 16, said the celebration was meaningful and precious.

"I had a  great time as the hotel team treated us like family," she said.

UNHCR began operation in Malaysia in 1975. There are over 96,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia of which 19,600 are youths and children with no access to formal education.

Source : http://www.nst.com.my

Churches, students prepare Oshkosh home for Burmese refugees

It wasn’t long after the call was made seeking sponsorship for a family of refugees from Burma , that a Welcome Team was assembled consisting of members from First Congregational Church and Emmaus Ecumenical Catholic Community, both of Oshkosh.

With guidance from World Relief International, the team launched the mission of setting up an appropriate apartment for the family of four who are “coming to America”.

The volunteer team asked fellow congregation members, friends, family and other groups who might have something to donate, to assist with supplying items from the long list of needs. Further assistance came on Saturday when 6 members of the Oshkosh North Student Council arrived at the apartment to wash windows, floors and woodwork.

The response from the community has been uplifting to the workers. The home that is being created will be uplifting to the new residents.

The family relocating to Oshkosh has been living as refugees in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia since 2006 when they fled their homeland, Myanmar (formerly Burma) to escape persecution by militaristic, authoritarian regimes. When they arrive in America they will have undergone an extensive screening process by the U.S. government to ensure that they pose no security or health risk, and to confirm that their personal situation warrants relocation. They will be legally eligible to apply for a Green Card and ultimately for U.S. Citizenship.

The task of preparing the home will be finished with just a little more organization and embellishment. The family will be leaving Malaysia soon and the anticipation of their arrival brings to mind the words of a favorite singer/songwriter: “ Far, we’ve been traveling far. Without a home, but not without a star. Got a dream to take us there. We’re coming to America. Got a dream we come to share. We’re coming to America.

We’re coming to America.

 

Source : http://www.thenorthwestern.com

Hundreds of Myanmar nationals seek refugee status

By Pratibha Raju

New Delhi: Making pavements as their homes, over 500 hundred Myanmar nationals, among them women and children, have camped for the past 12 days near the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office here, demanding a refugee status.

“Life is not easy for refugees like us, who fled our country… at the age of 18… I have faced torture, extortion, trauma and starvation,” Dilwana Begum, who works as a maid in Jammu, told IANS. “We are at least happy that unlike in our own country or Bangladesh, in India we feel safe and are not harassed for being Muslims. But the UNHCR is not paying heed to our plight.”

Since April 9, Begum and over 500 people like her belonging to Burmese Rohingya community, a Muslim community hounded out from Myanmar (formerly Burma), have made temporary sheds of polythene sheets by the rear compound wall of the UNHCR office in B-2 Block of Vasant Vihar in south Delhi, demanding refugee cards.

“We were issued a asylum seeker card in August 2011 by the UNHCR, but it deprives us from lot of facilities that a refugee would get. We want a refugee card. Our children need education, better living conditions like water to drink and toilets. But we are deprived of this as we don’t have a refugee card,” said Zia-ul-Rahman, a refugee who left Myanmar two years ago and now lives in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.

The refugees say that for the past 12 days, most of them did menial jobs to get food and water.

“We are at their doorsteps seeking help, but the UNHCR has not even reached us to see how we are managing here with small children and old people, hope they know the real meaning of human rights,” lamented Abdul Hafeez, who stays at the camp.

Hafeez speaks very little Hindi, and through an interpreter told IANS: “I lost my parents four years ago as the Burmese Junta shot them saying that they did not support the military regime. I had to discontinue my education. Like other refugees from Burma and countries like Afghanistan, Somalia, we need a refugee status so that I can continue my studies.”

Another refugee, Mamoon Rafeeq who works as teacher in Jammu said that the Rohingyas have been sidelined in Myanmar as they are a Muslim community.

“Unlike other Myanmarese refugees, Rohingya has been sidelined because we are Muslims. Other Myanmar refugees who are Christians and Buddhists are given refugee card,” Rafeeq claimed.

However, the UNHCR officials say that they discussed the issue with the refugees four to five times, but were not persuaded by their arguments.

The officials said they will now meet 10 representatives of the community on May 20.

“We don’t use the term Rohingya – we refer to this group as Muslims from northern Rakhine state. In India, there is no national legal framework for refugees, and because of this there are different approaches to different groups of people,” Nayana Bose, associate external relations officer UNHCR, told IANS.

“We have already registered them as asylum seekers and issued identity cards. The card is similar to the refugee card as it helps prevent harassment, arbitrary arrests, detention and expulsion,” Bose said.

“Moreover, we are having an on-going dialogue with this group, and for their own safety and well-being, we have asked them to go back to their residential places in India. We have offered to meet their representatives in a more structured manner, to see how best we can assist them, as we do with all groups of refugees and asylum seekers,” Bose added.

Source : http://nvonews.com

Chin: UNHCR Records Refugees Ahead Of Crackdown

Following the announcement of a major crackdown on refugees in Malaysia, the UNHCR started recording information on refugees.

Below is an article published by Chinland Guardian:

The UNHCR is to collect a name list of asylum seekers from Burma stranded in Malaysia starting tomorrow ahead of a major crackdown expected to take place on 10 April 2012.

The new move to record details of Chin asylum seekers across Malaysia is aimed at protecting them in the event of possible arrest and detention by Malayisan authorities when they clamp down on undocumented workers in the country.

A newsletter by the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) said the UNHCR will start recording details of Chin asylum seekers, not those who have been registered as refugees, adding: "This is not a registration to get a UNHCR card. We should not confuse it with getting registered as a refugee by the UNHCR."

The programme called 'Bio-Data Collecting Exercise' will be conducted in partnership and collaboration with members of COBEM (Coalition Of Burma Ethnics, Malaysia) under the UNHCR's supervision from 10 April till 31 May 2012. 

CRC, a COBEM member, also informed the Chin asylum seekers of the need to give their names and details to its community-based delegates, adding: "We will not accept any individual names given directly to us as we have our delegates across the Chin communities in Malaysia." 

Formed in 2007 to response to the needs of the ethnic refugees and migrant communities from Burma living in Malaysia, COBEM is comprised of seven members including Kachin refugee committee (KRC), Organization of Karenni Development (OKD), Malaysia Karen Organization (MKO), Chin refugee committee (CRC) together with Alliance for Chin refugees(ACR), Mon refugee Organization (MRO), Arakan Refugee Relief Committee (ARRC), and Shan refugee Organization (SRO).

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.

Burmese Refugees Face Tough Time in Japan

The group of Burmese refugees from Mae Lae camp after arriving in Japan last year. (Photo: ANN News)

President Thein Sein begins his state visit to Japan on Friday, a country with strong historic and economic links to Burma. Yet Japan is also struggling to find a solution to the issue of Burmese asylum seekers on its own soil.

Last year marked a record high for the rejection of refugee applications in Japan. Tokyo granted refugee status to only seven asylum seekers in 2011, making for a refusal rate of 99.97 percent in the first instance and 99.4 percent upon appeal, according to figures from the Japanese Ministry of Justice.

The number of asylum seekers denied refugee status but granted permission to stay on humanitarian grounds, but without further government support, has also been decreasing―from 501 three years ago, to 363 in 2010 and 248 last year.

Yet, the Burmese have been the largest number of refugee status applicants in Japan throughout the last decade. A total of 491 Burmese citizens applied for refugee status in Japan last year, marking an increase of 44 percent compared to 2010.

“Most of them are not majority ethnic Burmese but ethnic minorities,” Shiho Tanaka, of the Japan Association for Refugees, told The Irrawaddy.

Shogo Watanabe, chairman of the Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees, claims that the reason for the high rejection rate is the structure of the institution handling these applications―the Immigration Bureau.

He has dealt with around 50 Burmese refugee cases throughout his legal career, and many more through counseling.

“The department handling refugee status applications and the department handling deportations used to be on the same floor of the same building―left side refugee applications, right side deportations,” he said. “That has changed, now it’s just another floor in the same building.”

For Watanabe, the organization’s structure leads to an unfair process in the handling of the refugee applications. “Their mission is to doubt whether this person is a refugee,” he said.

When meeting with The Irrawaddy in his Tokyo office, Watanabe received news that he had just won a case at the city’s District Court. A 35-year-old ethnic Chin pastor from Thantlang Township in Chin State was appealing against the rejection of his refugee application.

After a visit to a Chin National Front camp in India in 2005, his father and the chief of his village were arrested. Because he was unable to return home, the guerrilla movement arranged for a fake Indian passport with a real Japanese visa.

He arrived in Japan in March 2006 and applied for refugee status, which was rejected in September 2008. Two years later his appeal was rejected.

The court’s decision last week will not grant him refugee status, as the Immigration Department can decide again on the matter or might decide to bring the case to the High Court. Watanabe is currently fighting another Chin case at the High Court.

Sixty Burmese citizens were deported from Japan last year, according to government figures.

“Japan historically enjoyed being a mono-cultural society and still enjoys it”, said Miki Kajimura from Tokyo University, who has extensively studied the Burmese community in Japan.

“Sooner or later, Japan will have to realize that it has no choice but to accept foreigners, including refugees, as it will soon face labor shortage, if not already does,” she said.

In 2008, the Japanese government approved an experimental resettlement program from refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese border to Japan.

Under the initial plan, 30 Burmese refugees from Mae La refugee camp were to be chosen by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Japanese government to be resettled in Japan, and given language and job training.

“The resettlement program has not worked out in Japan, as some, including myself, suspected,” Kajimura told The Irrawaddy. “The government merely used the Karen refugees to show that Japan too contributes to the international resolution of refugee problems.”

For every year since its commencement in 2010, the program has not reached the target number of 30 resettled. This year, the program was expanded to two more camps, but has so far attracted only ten refugees, Yuki Moriya from the UNHCR Japan office in Tokyo told The Irrawaddy last week.

Controversy arose regarding the working conditions of the first batch of resettled Karen last year. Two families were sent for job training at a farm in Chiba, near Tokyo, where they held a press conference complaining of long working hours and lack of convenient nursing facilities.

“Even though they were not of good health, and even if their children had a fever, the mother was expected to work,” Shogo Watanabe, who also represents one of the families, told The Irrawaddy.

For the Refugee Assistance Headquarters (RHQ), a semi-governmental organization in charge of the refugee program and supporting refugees and asylum seekers, the problem was not their conditions, but their attitude.

“They were more looking for a paid-by-the-hour type of job. They were not prepared to meet the expectations of the [company],” said RHQ’s Hidehiro Hosaka.

“It depends on the determination of people, it depends on perseverance,” he said.

The second batch of 18 refugees has completed a six-month language program in March and started to work at an undisclosed shoe manufacturing factory in Misato at the beginning of April, Hosaka said.

“The shoemaker is not a sweat shop, that shoemaker produces expensive shoes for ladies sold in the main street of Ginza,” said Hosaka, referring to Tokyo’s high-end shopping area.

The resettlement program, which is mostly sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is set to continue until 2015. “The government will decide after five years whether to extend it,” said Hosaka.

Of the first batch, two families are living in Tokyo, three others live in Mie Prefecture working at a Shitake mushroom factory. When contacted, one family refused to talk to The Irrawaddy for fear of repercussions.

“Most Burmese refugees in Japan have to work hard for long hours not only to support their life, but also their political activities,” said Kajimura.

For the so-far 45 Karen resettled from Mae La refugee camp, life hasn’t been easy either, said Watanabe. “It is very difficult for them to have a sustainable life in Japan,” he said. “It is very difficult for them to communicate in Japanese.”

“The first phase may be difficult, but Japan has a lot to offer, this an exciting and enjoyable place,” said Hosaka. “Once they are in Japan, we will extend assistance for this entire generation.”

Source : http://www.irrawaddy.org

Refugee Parents Died of Car Accident, Son in Critical Condition in Malaysia

Nu Cingpi while under intensive care at hospital in KL, Malaysia (Source: ZAM/www.tongsan.org)

18 April 2012: Pa Dal Za Khup and his wife Nu Cingpi, originally from Ngalbual village of Tedim Township, Chin State died at hospital last week after being hit by a car on Taman Chileong (Klang) road in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The fatal incident took place around 7:30pm on 10 April 2012 when the refugee couple with their 2-year-old twin sons were hit from behind by a car while walking across the road, according to the Zomi Association of Malaysia (ZAM).

Taken to hospital in Klang of Kuala Lumpur, Pa Dal Za Khup, aka Joseph Dal Khup, and wife Nu Cingpi succumbed to their serious injuries on 12 and 13 April 2012, leaving their two sons in Malaysia.

The elder son, whose brain is seriously affected in the accident, is now known to be in a critical condition despite an operation at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Members of the Zomi refugee community is said to have taken care of the younger son who has got minor injuries on his knees and arms.

The Tedim family are scheduled to fly today to the US as refugees under the UNHCR Resettlement Programmes.

64 illegals nabbed in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Sixty-four illegal foreign workers, including 10 women, were rounded up at two construction sites in Relau and Bayan Baru.

Penang Immigration Department enforcement officer Abdul Rahman Hassan said the operation, codenamed Ops Sepadu, was carried out after the extended deadline for phase two of the 6P programme ended on Tuesday.

“Those arrested comprised 21 Bangladeshis, 36 Indonesians and seven Myanmar nationals. They have been sent to the Juru detention camp in Bukit Mertajam for violating their social visit passes by overstaying.

Midnight operation: Immigration enforcement officers rounding up the illegal foreign workers at the construction site in Bayan Baru last night.

 

“More than 350 foreign workers, aged between 18 and 40, were screened during the four-hour raid, which started at midnight,” he told reporters at the scene yesterday.

Abdul Rahman said the foreign workers, who were sound asleep in their quarters, were surprised when the team entered the construction sites.

He added that some of them tried to flee but were apprehended after a short chase.

“A total of 76 personnel including 30 from Rela took part in the operation.

“We will be conducting more such operations from time to time,” he said.

A 24-year-old woman from Jitra, Kedah, who was found staying with her Indonesian boyfriend in one of the quarters, was spotted crying when she was questioned by a Rela personnel.

Her family members were later contacted to pick her up.

Source : TheStar

Government’s deception of undocumented migrants and refugees

To promise an amnesty and then to back-track and break those promises does not forge greater trust in the authorities, remarks Angeline Loh.

Immigration detainees at the Lenggeng Detention Centre, Malaysia, 23 July 2009 - Photo courtesy of Amnesty France Flickr

The recent announcement by the Federal authorities that the deadline for registration of undocumented migrant workers was extended to 10 April 2012 seems to be a misrepresentation, misleading employers, undocumented migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees.

Crackdowns had already started even before the last deadline on 15 February prior to this extension and are still continuing long before the new deadline.

Neither the Minister of Home Affairs nor the immigration authorities have made public any reasons for launching these crackdowns on undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and confirmed refugees during this amnesty period.

Migrants and human rights NGOs – Tenaganita and Suaram – have reported arrests and possible deportation of about 323 supposedly undocumented migrants from 11 February to 5 March. This number, however, includes persons with official UNHCR refugee status as well as asylum seekers protected by international law.

The use of deception as a ruse to corner and deport undocumented migrants, refugees and asylum seekers flies in the face of customary international human rights and refugee law. It indicates the extent to which the government of this country may be trusted by the international community as well as its own citizens.

To promise an amnesty for undocumented migrant workers, negotiate humanitarian agreements with the UN refugee agency and other interested parties, yet to subsequently back-track and break these promises, does not forge greater trust in the Malaysian government. The government looks set to continue its ‘war on migrants’ that has intensified since 2004. 

6P Registration – Going nowhere

A registration exercise to collect biometric data was carried out in August 2011 on refugees in the Klang Valley, at Putrajaya. Since then, nothing more has been heard about this programme or if the data collected has been used to identify refugees, amongst other measures that may assist in setting up a more comprehensive and updated immigration system to deal with current migration issues.

Moreover, the 6P registration of undocumented migrant workers appears to be going nowhere. According to media reports since last year, employers trying to get their foreign workers registered have faced long delays and queues merely to obtain queue numbers. Foreign workers had to be brought by their employers to Putrajaya from all corners of the country and had to wait days just to be registered.

There were also complaints about the slow pace at which immigration department staff worked and the breakdown of equipment used for electronic data collection. In some cases, foreign workers and employers were kept waiting at the immigration office for a whole day, only to be asked to return to the immigration office the next day to start the same process all over again.

Keeping workers and employers in limbo only causes work stoppages incurring daily losses, slow and reduced production of goods and services, or complete shutdowns that could end in the bankruptcy of many SMEs. Moreover, the current crackdowns on undocumented migrant workers without fair warning to either workers or employers and the non-compliance with government-set deadlines for an amnesty will disrupt operations to the disadvantage of both workers and the employers on whom they depend. This also creates an artificial labour shortage without any back-up labour force or compensation for arbitrary redundancy or loss of investment.

Immigration crackdowns detrimental to economy

Further, employers of undocumented migrant workers not yet registered face a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a twelve month jail term for each undocumented employee (Section 55B Immigration Act 1959/63). Attacking foreign employees and their employers would only bring about a lose-lose economic situation for smaller businesses in Malaysia, which contribute substantially to local investment in goods and services.

The other short-sighted measure instituted by the authorities is the prohibition on employing refugees present in the country. UNHCR-confirmed refugees number nearly 100,000. A number of refugees are reasonably able-bodied and of employable age. There are also refugees who were holding skilled jobs or were trained in skilled work before leaving their countries as refugees. Further, in comparison to the estimated number of undocumented foreign workers (2.6 m according to Tenaganita) in the country, 100,000 refugees is far smaller in number.

There is no reason why refugees with skills should be kept outside the labour force and prohibited from contributing to the economy of the country where they are seeking some security – even if it may be temporary. In view of the short-term contracts given to other foreign workers, working temporarily in the country should not pose a problem for an employer as the employer can quite easily employ a replacement worker. Better still, if the employer uses the trained refugee-worker to train other workers to replace them before they leave the country to be resettled or voluntarily return to their own countries.

There are many constructive solutions to the labour shortage in Malaysia and to the apparently overwhelming immigration problems Malaysia faces. But the biggest problem faced by the rakyat now is the dismal lack of political will to initiate and institute these constructive solutions for a better Malaysia. Those taking the initiative privately to use the labour and skills available regardless of legal status are deemed to be breaking the law under the Immigration Act. This dilemma leaves a pool of ready labour being un-utilised and apparently ‘punished’ for being victims of unjust persecution in their home countries – while leaving employers and local businesses uncertain of their future survival.

This entrapment ruse by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the immigration authorities is purposeless, unjustified and is of no benefit to the economy, the foreign migrants, refugees or the country. Politicising immigration and migrants can only be interpreted as emotionalising an apparently sensitive issue to gain political mileage by diverting public attention to unresolved migration problems ahead of Malaysia’s coming general election.

The adhoc and secretive actions of the federal authorities relating to undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia prompt us to ask why, since the 1970s, when refugees first arrived in Malaysia, the government has refrained from developing a better immigration system to cope with new migration trends and problems in the region. The government has also neglected to continuously monitor the effects of its sweeping foreign labour and migration policies, leaving problems to fester until they become unmanageable. Instead, it has used ever increasing numbers of security enforcers like Rela while condoning flagrant human rights abuses as its sole solution.

Angeline Loh is an Aliran executive committee member

Government’s deception of undocumented migrants and refugees

By Angeline Loh

APRIL 14 — The recent announcement by the Federal authorities that the deadline for registration of undocumented migrant workers was extended to 10 April 2012 seems to be a misrepresentation, misleading employers, undocumented migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees. 

Crackdowns had already started even before the last deadline on 15 February prior to this extension and are still continuing long before the new deadline. 

Neither the Minister of Home Affairs nor the immigration authorities have made public any reasons for launching these crackdowns on undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and confirmed refugees during this amnesty period. 

Migrants and human rights NGOs — Tenaganita and Suaram — have reported arrests and possible deportation of about 323 supposedly undocumented migrants from 11 February to 5 March. This number, however, includes persons with official UNHCR refugee status as well as asylum seekers protected by international law. 

The use of deception as a ruse to corner and deport undocumented migrants, refugees and asylum seekers flies in the face of customary international human rights and refugee law. It indicates the extent to which the government of this country may be trusted by the international community as well as its own citizens. 

To promise an amnesty for undocumented migrant workers, negotiate humanitarian agreements with the UN refugee agency and other interested parties, yet to subsequently back-track and break these promises, does not forge greater trust in the Malaysian government. The government looks set to continue its ‘war on migrants’ that has intensified since 2004. 

6P Registration — Going nowhere 

A registration exercise to collect biometric data was carried out in August 2011 on refugees in the Klang Valley, at Putrajaya. Since then, nothing more has been heard about this programme or if the data collected has been used to identify refugees, amongst other measures that may assist in setting up a more comprehensive and updated immigration system to deal with current migration issues. 

Moreover, the 6P registration of undocumented migrant workers appears to be going nowhere. According to media reports since last year, employers trying to get their foreign workers registered have faced long delays and queues merely to obtain queue numbers. Foreign workers had to be brought by their employers to Putrajaya from all corners of the country and had to wait days just to be registered. 

There were also complaints about the slow pace at which immigration department staff worked and the breakdown of equipment used for electronic data collection. In some cases, foreign workers and employers were kept waiting at the immigration office for a whole day, only to be asked to return to the immigration office the next day to start the same process all over again. 

Keeping workers and employers in limbo only causes work stoppages incurring daily losses, slow and reduced production of goods and services, or complete shutdowns that could end in the bankruptcy of many SMEs. Moreover, the current crackdowns on undocumented migrant workers without fair warning to either workers or employers and the non-compliance with government-set deadlines for an amnesty will disrupt operations to the disadvantage of both workers and the employers on whom they depend. This also creates an artificial labour shortage without any back-up labour force or compensation for arbitrary redundancy or loss of investment. 

Immigration crackdowns detrimental to economy 

Further, employers of undocumented migrant workers not yet registered face a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a twelve month jail term for each undocumented employee (Section 55B Immigration Act 1959/63). Attacking foreign employees and their employers would only bring about a lose-lose economic situation for smaller businesses in Malaysia, which contribute substantially to local investment in goods and services. 

The other short-sighted measure instituted by the authorities is the prohibition on employing refugees present in the country. UNHCR-confirmed refugees number nearly 100,000. A number of refugees are reasonably able-bodied and of employable age. There are also refugees who were holding skilled jobs or were trained in skilled work before leaving their countries as refugees. Further, in comparison to the estimated number of undocumented foreign workers (2.6 m according to Tenaganita) in the country, 100,000 refugees is far smaller in number. 

There is no reason why refugees with skills should be kept outside the labour force and prohibited from contributing to the economy of the country where they are seeking some security — even if it may be temporary. In view of the short-term contracts given to other foreign workers, working temporarily in the country should not pose a problem for an employer as the employer can quite easily employ a replacement worker. Better still, if the employer uses the trained refugee-worker to train other workers to replace them before they leave the country to be resettled or voluntarily return to their own countries. 

There are many constructive solutions to the labour shortage in Malaysia and to the apparently overwhelming immigration problems Malaysia faces. But the biggest problem faced by the rakyat now is the dismal lack of political will to initiate and institute these constructive solutions for a better Malaysia. Those taking the initiative privately to use the labour and skills available regardless of legal status are deemed to be breaking the law under the Immigration Act. This dilemma leaves a pool of ready labour being un-utilised and apparently ‘punished’ for being victims of unjust persecution in their home countries — while leaving employers and local businesses uncertain of their future survival. 

This entrapment ruse by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the immigration authorities is purposeless, unjustified and is of no benefit to the economy, the foreign migrants, refugees or the country. Politicising immigration and migrants can only be interpreted as emotionalising an apparently sensitive issue to gain political mileage by diverting public attention to unresolved migration problems ahead of Malaysia’s coming general election. 

The adhoc and secretive actions of the federal authorities relating to undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia prompt us to ask why, since the 1970s, when refugees first arrived in Malaysia, the government has refrained from developing a better immigration system to cope with new migration trends and problems in the region. The government has also neglected to continuously monitor the effects of its sweeping foreign labour and migration policies, leaving problems to fester until they become unmanageable. Instead, it has used ever increasing numbers of security enforcers like Rela while condoning flagrant human rights abuses as its sole solution. — Aliran

* Angeline Loh is an Aliran executive committee member

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified

Source : TheMalaysianInsider

Taylor’s college empowers Burmese refugee children

By Tan Kai Swee http://cj.my/post

Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, as such refugees and migrants, particularly those who are not registered with the United Nations are not accorded any legal rights.

However, this has not stopped a group of young Taylor’s College students and lecturers from stepping forward with their “Everyone has hope” project to help a select group of  Burmese refugee  children from the Chin State in Western Myanmar.

Constant harassment and oppression by the Myanmar Government, have forced many ethnic minorities to migrate and seek refuge on foreign soils. The situation in the Chin State has been made particularly made worse by a famine over the past few years.

 

From L to R: Simon (15 yrs old), Hua Pi (16 yrs), Biak Nei Zing (14 yrs) and Philip (15 yrs). They are  from the Chin State in Myanmar

Colin Boyd Shafer

CJMY spoke to Colin Boyd Schafer, a lecturer in Taylor’s College and the founder of the “Everyone has hope” on his inspiration for this initiative.

“This project basically started after I saw the movie, Born in a brothel, where a photographer taught children of sex workers photography to make them feel better and sort of liberate them from the situation they are in.

In Malaysia, refugees, in general are in a very marginalised situation. They need a lot of help and they do not have enough support from the Government, as they are classified as illegal immigrants”

Marina Mahathir receiving a momento from Philip, aged 15

Marina Mahathir, a very strong proponent of human rights and socio-political issues, was the Guest of Honour at the opening of the “Everyone has hope” Exhibition held at the Cube Gallery,  Ampang Point on the 14^th April 2012.  More than 100 people turned up for the opening and especially heart warming was the support from the International communities.

In an interview with CJMY, Marina said: “ I think the photography exhibition allows the Burmese refugee children to express themselves in a medium which is easily available and understood.  Some of them have real talents in the way they expressed themselves. This project allows the public to have a window into the life of a refugee”

The highlight of the evening was 2 pieces of unique archival prints done by the Burmese children which was auctioned off by Marina as the chief auctioneer for between RM300 and RM500.

Nafise Motliaq, an Iranian professional photographer who helped to teach some of the young Burmese children

Rakill (Rachel) aged 13, one of the young Burmese children exhibiting her work

The star of the exhibition was definitely Ms Rakill (Rachel) aged 13, who not only speaks fluent English but is an accomplished singer as well.  Tears in her eyes, she addressed the mix crowd and  thanked Taylor’s College for the love and care that has been showered upon them.

To show their appreciation to  all those who were present, the young Burmese photographers broke into an English and a Burmese song.

Australia has started taking Malaysia-based refugees

• 
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MELBOURNE: Australia has already started accepting refugees from Malaysia, mainly people from Myanmar, under a two-dimension arrangement between the two countries.

Its High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur Miles Kupa, said it was agreed last year that Australia would send 8,000 asylum seekers from Christmas Island to Malaysia to process their claims for refugee status.

In return Australia would receive 4,000 people certified as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over four years. But the high court in Australia blocked the move of asylum seekers to Malaysia and no progress has been made since, chiefly because the Australian opposition party refuses to co-operate with the Government. But Australia is committed and is receiving refugees based in Malaysia.

"We are in the process of taking this year's component of that 4,000-refugee commitment and those people are now coming to Australia," Kupa told ABC Radio.

"So we're living up to that side of the agreement, even though the other part of it is blocked for the moment," he said adding that between 500 and 600 refugees had already arrived in Australia.

The Myanmar group known as the Chin has "the prospect of being very good migrants, very good members of our community here," Kupa said.

The High Commissioner said Australia's new Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr remained committed to the asylum seeker swap plan with Malaysia.

Kupa said the Malaysian authorities, particularly the Home Affairs Minister, who is the key minister throughout the negotiations, has remained committed to that and working with Australia.

"I should note too that Malaysia and Australia work very closely together on combating people smuggling, trying to round up the bad guys who organise this very evil traffic. And that cooperation continues to be very solid indeed," he said.

Source : http://www.siasah.com.my

Still waiting for reform in Burma

 A Burmese monk and his son feed the seagulls on a jetty along the Yangon river ahead of the parliamentary elections March 29. Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory, gaining 43 seats out of the 44 vacant seats in parliament.

Photograph by: Paula Bronstein, Getty Images , Ottawa Citizen

The people of Burma have had great hope before, in 1990, only to be bitterly disappointed, writes Yee Htun 

Last Sunday, the people of Burma - the country of my birth - voted in byelections. The outcome: Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory, gaining 43 seats out of the 44 vacant seats in parliament. Coverage of the Burmese elections has heralded it as a landmark election, an indication of democratic reforms sweeping across the country. Asian leaders have applauded the military regime in Burma and have issued a formal call for sanctions against Burma to be lifted immediately. The United States and European Union leaders have announced that they would ease sanctions.

But even as images of jubilant celebrations across Burma stream in, I, a Burmese prodemocratic human rights activist living in exile in Canada, am not quick to believe the hype. For you see, during my lifetime, this is the second election in which Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the NLD, have run, with starkly different results.

The first elections took place in 1990, when I was a little girl living on the Thai-Burma border. My family and I spent the day transfixed next to the radio listening to the news as the election results trickled in. The day was memorable because it was my ninth birthday and our national hero, Aung San Suu Kyi, was poised to become the leader of our country. I will never forget the happiness we all felt as we heard about the NLD's landmark victory, winning 83 per cent of the seats in Parliament. Having lived under restrictive military rule since 1962, we had all hoped and prayed for true democracy to come to our country. And on that May day in 1990, it seemed possible.

Unfortunately, we were bitterly disappointed. The Burmese military regime never honoured the 1990 election results. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest, and a majority of the NLD party members were incarcerated. Other pro-democratic activists, fearing persecution, fled the country.

Since that time, those of us in the Burmese exile community have looked to our country of birth, waiting for a sign. Any sign that indicated things inside Burma were improving or that we can finally go home and be united with relatives. I have spent most of my life waiting in exile. I have dedicated my adult life to advocating internationally for democracy in Burma. Sadly, I am certain that even with the by-elections results, true democratic reform has yet to arrive.

While it is empowering to see our moral leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, become a member of parliament, and to see my fellow Burmese vote her and her party in, the NLD holds only 43 seats out of 656 seats in parliament. The military regime's Union Solidarity and Development Party remains very much in control of the Parliament. And with 6.4 per cent of the seats, the NLD is not even the official opposition. That right belongs to the military Defence Services Personnel in parliament.

For those who are beguiled by the supposed changes in Burma following the by-elections results, the reality is that very little has changed. The military remains very much in control of the country. Even as it espoused peace and democratic reform internationally, the regime has not ceased its military offensive against ethnic minorities of Burma.

The military continues to use rape to humiliate women and their communities. Indeed, high incidents of rape and the systemic use of it as a weapon of war is one of the reasons why there is an international movement to refer Burma to the International Criminal Court for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

The regime vowed to release all political prisoners in August 2011 but, in fact, has not. Only 302 were released while 900 remain behind bars, including over 170 women. An extremely oppressive constitution enacted by the regime to entrench military rule and suppress civil liberties remains in place. The constitution ensures that Aung San Suu Kyi will never become its head of state as that position requires military experience. In fact, most women of Burma are effectively denied from ever holding any cabinet position for this same reason. Furthermore, the constitution contains an amnesty clause that protects military personnel from being held accountable for past and present human rights abuses.

I believe that true democratic reform will arrive in Burma only when:

? ? there is a genuine and nation-wide ceasefire in Burma;

? ? ethnic women of Burma are no longer being systemically raped by the military;

? ? all political prisoners of Burma are freed;

? ? rule of law is restored and a constitution that promotes freedom and civil liberties is enacted;

? ? and there is justice for past and present human rights abuses.

Only then can Burma heal and move from its bleak past towards a new dawn. The regime and the international community both have a crucial role to play in ensuring that democracy arrives in Burma. The people of Burma have done what they can under the restrictive circumstances by voting for Aung San Suu Kyi and her party. I urge Canadians to demand true democratic reform on behalf of the people of Burma and ensure that the international community maintains pressure on the regime. Any easing of sanctions must be conditional upon the regime enacting real reforms.

Without true democratic reform, my country of birth remains a place I cannot return to, and my fellow Burmese are deprived of all the fundamental rights and freedoms that we here in Canada are privileged to enjoy.

Yee Htun lives in Ottawa and immigrated to Canada as a government-sponsored UN Convention refugee. She has a Juris Doctor (JD) from Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law with a concentration in International Law and is the Coordinator for the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict.

Source : http://www.ottawacitizen.com

UNHCR to Record Chin Asylum Seekers ahead of Major Crackdown in Malaysia

(Photo Source: Wikipedia)

08 April 2012: The UNHCR is to collect a name list of asylum seekers from Burma stranded in Malaysia starting tomorrow ahead of a major crackdown expected to take place on 10 April 2012.

The new move to record details of Chin asylum seekers across Malaysia is aimed at protecting them in the event of possible arrest and detention by Malayisan authorities when they clamp down on undocumented workers in the country.

A newsletter by the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) said the UNHCR will start recording details of Chin asylum seekers, not those who have been registered as refugees, adding: "This is not a registration to get a UNHCR card. We should not confuse it with getting registered as a refugee by the UNHCR."

The programme called 'Bio-Data Collecting Exercise' will be conducted in partnership and collaboration with members of COBEM (Coalition Of Burma Ethnics, Malaysia) under the UNHCR's supervision from 10 April till 31 May 2012.

Making an announcement in the newsletter, the Falam Refugee Organization (FRO) said the registration would be first done through ACR (Alliance of Chin Refugee) though it would also assist as one of the ACR's members in the name-recording process.

"Filling up the registration form will cost 100 Ringgits and a family with children under 18 years of age will need to fill up only one form. But those over 18 will have to get their own form separately," added the announcement.

CRC, a COBEM member, also informed the Chin asylum seekers of the need to give their names and details to its community-based delegates, adding: "We will not accept any individual names given directly to us as we have our delegates across the Chin communities in Malaysia."

Formed in 2007 to response to the needs of the ethnic refugees and migrant communities from Burma living in Malaysia, COBEM is comprised of seven members including Kachin refugee committee (KRC), Organization of Karenni Development (OKD), Malaysia Karen Organization (MKO), Chin refugee committee (CRC) together with Alliance for Chin refugees(ACR), Mon refugee Organization (MRO), Arakan Refugee Relief Committee (ARRC), and Shan refugee Organization (SRO).

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.

Reporting by Thawng Zel Thang

Australia Has Started Taking Refugees Based In Malaysia

MELBOURNE, April 7 (Bernama) -- Australia has already started accepting refugees from Malaysia, mainly people from Myanmar, under a two-dimension arrangement between the two countries, Miles Kupa, the Australian High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur said.

It was agreed last year that Australia would send 8,000 asylum seekers from Christmas Island to Malaysia to process their claims for refugee status.

In return Australia would receive 4,000 people certified as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over four years.

But the high court in Australia blocked the move of asylum seekers to Malaysia and no progress has been made since, chiefly because the Australian opposition party refuses to co-operate with the Government.

But Australia is committed and is receiving refugees based in Malaysia.

"We are in the process of taking this year's component of that 4,000-refugee commitment and those people are now coming to Australia," Kupa told ABC Radio.

"So we're living up to that side of the agreement, even though the other part of it is blocked for the moment," he said.

Kupa said between 500 and 600 refugees had already arrived in Australia.

The Myanmar group known as the Chin has "the prospect of being very good migrants, very good members of our community here," Kupa said.

The High Commissioner said Australia's new Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr remained committed to the asylum seeker swap plan with Malaysia.

Kupa said the Malaysian authorities, particularly the Home Affairs Minister, who is the key minister throughout the negotiations has remained committed to that and working with Australia.

"I should note too that Malaysia and Australia work very closely together on combating people smuggling, trying to round up the bad guys who organise this very evil traffic. And that cooperation continues to be very solid indeed," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Giving refugees a voice through art

By Lydia Koh

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — The one thing refugees need to get them through the ordeal of trying to find a new home? Hope.

Fortunately, a group of Myanmar refugees in Malaysia found hope when a team from the Canadian Pre-University (CPU) programme in Taylor’s College provided an opportunity for the refugees to learn photography and exhibit their works.

Titled “Everyone Has Hope: A Photography Project with Burmese Refugee Youth”, the project started in 2010 with successful exhibitions at Annexe Gallery and KLPAC. This year sees their fourth gallery showing at The Cube Gallery.

Datuk Marina Mahathir will be present on the opening night and this year’s exhibition will also showcase performances by Myanmar children, photographs depicting their lives as refugees in Malaysia as well as videos of the refugees.

Colin Shafer, a CPU lecturer with Taylor’s College, is the founder of this project.

“Our team’s ongoing mission for this project is to provide disadvantaged youths with the opportunity to express themselves... have a voice through art. We also hope that by running this project, it will help the refugee youths to build some invaluable skills and raise money for organisations that are helping refugees here in Malaysia,” said Shafer.   

Limited-edition archival prints of the photos will be sold throughout the duration of the exhibition with the proceeds going to the ACR Refugee School. Entrance to the exhibition is free.

Source : FACEBOOK: facebook.com/everyonehashopeproject

"Malaysian government has in recent years taken positive steps towards improving the situation for refugees and asylum seekers”

"Malaysian government has in recent years taken positive steps towards improving the situation for refugees and asylum seekers”

 The Malaysian Bar is pleased to support the global campaign calling for an end to the immigration detention of children. This was launched on 21 March 2012 at the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. In conjunction with the launch of the campaign, the International Detention Coalition (“IDC”)1 released a report-cum-policy document called “Captured Childhood”, which highlights the experiences of 70 detained children and 16 parents of children who have been detained in immigration detention around the globe, including Malaysia. The document can be accessed here.
The immigration detention of children in Malaysia is an issue of concern to the Malaysian Bar. Malaysia, as a signatory to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (“CRC”), is committed to upholding the provision of the CRC that detention of children should only be used as a “last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time”. We note that the IDC report acknowledges that “[t]he Malaysian government has in recent years taken positive steps towards improving the situation for refugees and asylum seekers” and that “[i]mproved access to immigration depots for the UNHCR has meant that the release of some refugee and asylum-seeking children and their families has been secured more rapidly”. IDC has also observed that “[t]here have also been clear efforts by officials within specific immigration detention centres to improve conditions for child detainees”.

However, Malaysia should not rest on its laurels. We should aim for zero immigration detention of children as well as their families. Given that administrative detention and deprivation of liberty can result in long-term emotional and psychological damage for any child, and separation from one or both parents can be a highly traumatic experience, the Malaysian Government should ensure that refugee and asylum-seeking children and their families are immediately united (if separated) and accommodated together under alternative non-custodial arrangements rather than in immigration detention centres. The government should investigate the feasibility of providing accommodation for refugee and asylumseeking children and their families within the community.
Government policy with respect to refugee and asylum-seeking children, as well as stateless children, should also focus on providing them with adequate access to affordable health care. These groups of children should be allowed to receive medical attention at nominal charges at government medical facilities.
At present, the Malaysian Government relies almost exclusively on the private sector, namely non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”), to meet the schooling and recreational needs of refugees, asylum-seeking and stateless children.
Little or no financial assistance is given to such NGOs by the government. As such, the provision of education is ad hoc and not comprehensive, and enjoyment of recreational facilities is sporadic at best. Coming as they do from already dire circumstances, such children are thus additionally deprived and their future well-being further disadvantaged. We call on the Malaysian Government not to ignore its responsibility in contributing to the financial costs of providing education and recreational facilities to these groups of children.
Given the slow rate of resettlement, many refugee and asylum-seeking children are likely to spend a considerable amount of time in Malaysia. All parties concerned should think “outside the box” and consider the possibility of absorbing these children and their families in our country.
The Malaysian Bar urges the Malaysian Government to take cognisance of IDC’s report-cum-policy document, and the observations and recommendations made therein. We encourage the Malaysian Government to work with IDC, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (“SUHAKAM”), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) in Malaysia, civil society groups as well as the Malaysian Bar, to initiate and implement effective alternative approaches to the immigration detention of children.

Source : MalaysianBar

M Ramachelvam, Chairperson, Subcommittee on Migrants, Refugees and Immigration AffairsAndrew Khoo Chin Hock,

Chairperson, Human Rights CommitteeBar Council Malaysia
2 April 2012

1 The International Detention Coalition is a coalition of over 250 non-governmental groups and individuals working in more than 50 countries to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in immigration detention around the world through education, networking, advocacy, reporting and research.

Rock Out for Refugees!

Help refugee kids go to school and rock out to some great bands – only $15!

Tickets available at Soundscapes (572 College St)

90, 000+ - that’s the number of refugees currently living in Malaysia. The majority of these refugees are from Burma (Myanmar), having escaped from persecution and political turmoil. Refugees in Malaysia face many difficulties, including the inability to legally work or access formal education.

In response to these challenges, some refugees have started programs and educational initiatives to fill the gap. One such program is a school started by Thang Lian (aka John), a Burmese refugee living in Kuala Lumpur. Volunteer teachers from the Burmese refugee community have donated their time but the school needs money for books, food and utilities to keep the school running.

So how can you help?

ROCK OUT FOR REFUGEES! Come to el Mocambo on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 to help raise money to keep this school going while also rocking out with some great bands! Whether you like rock, bluegrass, or folk, there will be something to get your booty shaking, legs stomping, and hands waving!

Questions?

Where does the money raised actually go?

All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to support Thang Lian’s work with the school in Kuala Lumpur. To keep the school funded, he plans to allocate a portion of the funds raised towards a skills training initiative for the parents/caretakers of the children.


How can I snag some tickets?

In person in advance - $15
E-mail us at: rockoutforrefugees@gmail.com
At Soundscapes (572 College St)

Online - $17
Prefer the convenience of online shopping? If so, grab your tickets here: http://rockoutforrefugees.eventbrite.ca/

Donations can also be made using the above link.

At the door - $17


Who will we be rockin out to?
An amazing line-up of bands with something for everyone!

Emily Jill West (emilyjillwest.com)
Mughal Empire
Opium Parlour (https://www.facebook.com/OpiumParlour)
Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen (http://www.myspace.com/trevorjamesmusic)
DJ Q


For more information about refugees in Malaysia: http://www.unhcr.org.my/refugeeMsia.htm

Thanks in advance for supporting this initiative! For any questions on the school or how the money will be used, please feel free to message Fiona Thomas or e-mail us at rockoutforrefugees@gmail.com.

Finally, please help us spread the word! 

Source : http://www.blogto.com