Crackdown on migrants, refugees in Malacca

By Aliran, 

 

Tenaganita has been informed that a “big raid” was carried out in Melaka on 3 March 2012, at about 4.00am. The total number of migrants and refugees detained in that raid is currently unknown. 

A crowded immigration detention camp in Malaysia

The refugee community is currently only aware of two Chin refugee women who were arrested in the 3 March raid. Their families and communities do not know where they have been taken to. As almost all detainees are denied the right to make a phone call, this remains a serious problem.

If you have any information pertaining to this arrest, please contact Tenaganita’s Refugee Action Programme at: rap[at]tenaganita.net

6P: Crackdown on migrants and refugees

Despite statements by the Home Ministry that the “amnesty period” has been extended to 10 April 2012, refugees and migrants continue to be arrested, detained and whipped.

Key concerns:

• Detention and deportation of refugees, stateless persons, trafficked victims & other vulnerable populations including children;
• Use of violence  by enforcement officers during raids, arrests & detention;
• Violation of rights during arrests and detention : i.e. no access to lawyers, phone call to family, deprivation of basic needs, etc

In order to monitor and respond to this crackdown, several hotline numbers have been set up:

Tenaganita: *hotline number pending; email: rap@tenaganita.net

MSRI (hotline for refugees & asylum seekers): +6-012-6628483
SUARAM: +6-03-7784 3525 / 013 3470860, refugee@suaram.net / saradev14@yahoo.com

Please send information about raids, rights violations during this crackdown or any other relevant information to: raidwatch@gmail.com

Media contact: Irene Fernandez (Tenaganita):

irene.f@tenaganita.net
+6-012-316 3011