Don't blame foreign workers for every crime, says Zahid

PARLIAMENT Do not place the blame for crime rates in the country squarely on foreigners alone, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid (right) told the Dewan Rakyat that only 10 to 15 percent of serious crimes in the country were committed by foreign workers in the country, while a large majority of the crimes were still carried out by Malaysians.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) on the numbers of crimes carried out by the foreign workers in the country.

Zahid said that officially, there are 2.1 million foreign workers in the country. - Malaysiakini, 30/10/2013, Don't blame foreign workers for every crime, says Zahid

Fulbright Starts Efforts to Help Alumni Keep Global Ties

Lexey Swall for The Chronicle

Colleen R. O'Neal, assistant professor of psychology at the U. of Maryland, studied refugee students in Malaysia on a Fulbright in 2010. "You're introduced to new topics that you never would have dreamed of," she says.

By Ian Wilhelm

Colleen R. O'Neal had what many might call the quintessential Fulbright experience.

For years, Ms. O'Neal, who earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology, had studied the emotional health of minority students under duress in the United States. But in 2010 she traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as part of the U.S. State Department's Fulbright Program.

There she discovered a new passion: studying the stresses faced by the 40,000 or so refugee children from Burma and elsewhere—an underserved population she says she had never heard of before she arrived.

When the fellowship ended, Ms. O'Neal was determined to continue working with the refugees, and even left her position at New York University's School of Medicine to take a new job at a program more open to international research and teaching.

Today, Ms. O'Neal, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland at College Park's College of Education, credits the Fulbright with altering the trajectory of her academic life.

"One of the amazing things about Fulbright is that you're introduced to new topics that you never would have dreamed of in your research," she says. "I fall into that category."

Ms. O'Neal is not alone. Of the roughly 1,100 American scholars who go abroad each year as part of the program, many say it has a lasting impact on their careers, says Meghann Curtis, deputy assistant secretary for academic programs at the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which oversees the Fulbright Program.

She says she and other department officials often hear academics say the program "changed the way I do my research, it changed the focus of my scholarly research."

In recent years the State Department has started new efforts to help the 325,000 alumni around the world maintain their international links and use the Fulbright experience to improve their job prospects.

While the department's main focus will remain on making the fellowship itself as rich an experience as possible, "there's going to be more and more things that we start to engage in to help Fulbrighters to continue to develop their careers and to stay connected," says Ms. Curtis.

The department opened an alumni office for Fulbright and its other academic programs 10 years ago. Part of its focus has been on gaining a better understanding of the international exchanges' long-term benefits.

According to a 2009 survey, the most recent available, commissioned by the State Department of 520 American scholars who had been on a fellowship three to four years earlier, more than 50 percent said the Fulbright contributed in part to positive career changes, which in some cases included being promoted and earning tenure.

The survey also suggested that the program had a lasting influence on the participants' teaching and research. More than 80 percent said they had incorporated international content in their coursework as a result of the fellowship, about 75 percent said they had continued collaborating with former colleagues in their host country, and almost 60 percent said they had already returned to the country for professional purposes.

To help continue such connections, the State Department has started holding conferences for alumni in specific areas of research; a forthcoming meeting in Sweden, for example, will bring together former Fulbright scholars to discuss how climate change is affecting the Arctic. Ms. Curtis says the department also plans to help American alumni continue their language studies and to hold job fairs overseas for foreign Fulbright scholars.

Perhaps the most significant effort was the establishment of an "innovation fund" three years ago. It provides small grants to alumni of the Fulbright and other U.S. government exchange programs to start or continue projects overseas. Last year it awarded $1-million to such efforts. (The State Department said it was unsure how much would be available for the fund this year.)

One of the 2012 recipients was a team of former Fulbright scholars led by Ms. O'Neal and Wai Sheng Ng, a Malaysian academic who earned a Fulbright in 2001. The group received $25,000 to continue its work with refugee students in Malay society.

While the dollar amount is small by American standards, it will go a long way in the developing world, says Ms. O'Neal. It will be used to train teachers in how to assess and manage the mental-health needs of refugee students. Barred by the government from attending public schools, refugee children instead enroll in education programs operated by nongovernmental organizations and religious groups that rely on volunteer instructors.

Ms. O'Neal says she plans to return to Malaysia as often as her responsibilities at home allow. Regardless, she says her academic work will continue to have a global bent.

Meeting the refugee children exposed her to how national policies that drive people to flee their homelands can have a distinct impact on the welfare of individual students. "It expanded my research to how the political is personal."

Karen Refugees in Thailand Wary of Return to Burma

BANGKOK — Despite Burma’s political opening in recent years, most of the roughly 130,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand are not expecting to return any time soon. A first-of-its kind U.N. survey of refugees indicates that many remain wary of heading back across the border.

A pilot socioeconomic survey commissioned by a United Nations agency has found the majority of those living in the largest refugee camp in Thailand prefer either to be resettled in a third country or to stay in Thailand.

Mireille Girard, the representative in Thailand of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said the responses from more than 6,500 households in the Mae La Temporary Shelter (in Tak province), captured the mood of those living in the camps.

“A lot of people are still making up their mind as we speak. They've not really set their minds. And we're not asking them to make a choice at this stage. We're just trying to assess their intention and aspirations so we can help prepare better for the solutions that they are imagining for themselves,” said Girard.

Only a small number at Mae La expressed a preference to return. The majority cited a continuing lack of trust in the Burmese government and a perceived lack of status or citizenship there. They also mentioned worries about security, how they would make a living and the lack of infrastructure in the communities they fled.

Nearly all of those living in the Mae La camp are ethnic Karen who fled their homeland to escape repression by the military in Burma (also known as Myanmar). There is no permanent cease-fire in most places to which the refugees would return.

UNHCR's Girard concurs conditions have not yet been met for those in Thailand to return home.

“Amnesty, freedom of choice by people of the place that they want to return to, access by humanitarian agencies so we make sure we can visit people on return, etc. These will need to put in place when the time is ripe for people to return, when they are willing to return and eager to return in big numbers. And at that time then we will shift to promoting repatriation. At the moment we are not yet there,” said Girard.

About 130,000 refugees are residing in nine border camps in Thailand. Many of those were born in exile. Eighty percent of the camps' residents are ethnic Karen.

Since 2005, more than 83,000 people who fled Burma to Thailand have resettled in third countries, with most going to the United States.

Thailand ended registration of refugees in 2006 and has maintained that those who are not documented are ineligible to move to a third country. An exception, since last year, is for those who have family members who have resettled elsewhere.

An estimated one million Burmese reside in Thailand, most of them undocumented migrant workers.

After 60 years of military rule, Burma peacefully transitioned in 2010 to a quasi-civilian government. But active or retired army officers continue to wield great authority.

Cease-fire agreements with most of the 13 non-state armed groups are deemed by some observers to be in jeopardy with occasional clashes continuing between ethnic rebels and the Burmese military.

Ethnic Burman dominance over the Karen and other minorities has long been the catalyst for separatist rebellions and has compelled thousands of civilians to flee their homes.

FY 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO Programs Benefiting Burmese Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Thailand and Malaysia

Funding Opportunity Announcement
BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES, AND MIGRATION

October 22, 2013

Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-PRMOAPEA-14-001-018636

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.511- Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for East Asia

Announcement issuance date: Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Proposal submission deadline: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. noon (EST). Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

ADVISORY: PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address any difficulties that may arise.

Proposed Program Start Dates: January 1 – April 1, 2014

Eligible Applicants: (1) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; (2) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; and (3) International Organizations. International Organizations (IOs) should not submit proposals through Grants.gov in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Rather IOs such as UN agencies and other Public International Organizations (PIOs) that are seeking funding for programs relevant to this announcement should contact the relevant PRM Program Officer (as listed below) on or before the closing date of the funding announcement.

Duration of Activity: Program plans from 12 to 24 months will be considered. Applicants may submit multi-year proposals with activities and budgets that do not exceed 24 months from the proposed start date. Actual awards will not exceed 12 months in duration. Continued funding after the initial 12- month award requires the submission of a noncompeting continuation application and will be contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need. In funding a project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the project in successive years and encourages applicants to seek a wide array of donors to ensure long-term funding possibilities. Please see the Multi-Year Funding section below for additional information.

PRM will prioritize project proposals that demonstrate strong coordination and integration of services with other NGOs.

Current Funding Priorities for Assistance to Burmese Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Thailand:

PRM will prioritize funding for proposed NGO activities that best meet the Bureau’s priorities in Thailand for Burmese refugees in camps along the Thailand-Burma border as identified below.

(1) Health (including curative, preventative, reproductive health, mental health and psychosocial care), Water and Sanitation, and addressing Gender-Based Violence:

PRM will accept proposals from NGOs for activities that focus on the following priorities in Site 1, Site 2, Tham Hin, Mae La, Umpiem, and Nu Po camps:

a) Improving access to quality health care services, focusing on integrated health services provision, including the incorporation of training and capacity building of key responders with the provision of services;

b) Improving the quality of life of refugee populations by addressing their mental health and psychosocial needs and developing income-generating activities, with an emphasis on the development of skills and vocational training to achieve a measure of self-sufficiency and a reasonable livelihood[1];

c) Improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in line with Sphere standards;

d) Strengthening the community’s capacity to respond to the health, psychosocial, safety and justice needs of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV); and

e) Strengthening the community’s capacity to address health, and water and sanitation needs.

(2) Nutritional Assistance:

NGO proposals to provide nutritional assistance to Burmese refugees in the nine camps should focus on the following:

a) Providing nutritionally adequate rations for the most vulnerable;

b) Providing sufficient cooking fuel to meet the basic household needs of camp residents;

c) Ensuring malnutrition rates amongst children under five remain at or below current levels; and

d) Increasing self-reliance behavior of beneficiaries.

Current Funding Priorities for Assistance to Burmese Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Malaysia:

PRM will accept proposals from NGOs that focus on the following priorities:

(1) Mental Health and Medical Services:

a) Building the capacity of refugees and asylum seekers to work with their own communities to promote mental health and access to mental health and medical services;

b) Strengthening an effective referral and case management system by integrating refugee community-based organizations, UNHCR, NGOs, and medical facilities;

c) Conducting mental health promotion and screening among refugee communities across Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley; and

d) Providing medical support and rehabilitative services for refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced torture, forced labor, human trafficking or economic exploitation; or who may be unable to work because of mental or physical ill health.

(2) Education:

a) Providing informal education to out-of-school refugee youth through community-based English language training and/or computer skills development;

b) Improving teaching skills and capacity of refugee teachers at community-based refugee education centers;

c) Providing extracurricular programming that incorporates physical and psychosocial development components at community-based refugee education centers.

Proposals focusing on health in camp-based settings should include a minimum of one of the four following indicators, and include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

Number of consultations/clinician/day – Target: Fewer than 50 patients per clinician per day

Measles vaccination rate for children under five – Target: 95% coverage

Percentage of deliveries attended by a skilled birth attendant in a health care facility – Target: 100%

Percentage of reporting rape survivors given post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with 72 hours – Target: 100%

Proposals focusing on health in urban settings must include a minimum of one of the six following indicators and should try to include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

Capacity-building: # of health care professionals/administrators trained on providing health services to refugee populations.

Referrals: # of refugees referred to appropriate services, and % of those referred who were able to get needed services.

Community Outreach: # of refugees who received targeted messages on their rights and health-related services available to them.

Health Staffing: # of total consultations per health care provider, disaggregated by refugee/national, sex, and age.

Patient Satisfaction: % of refugee patients receiving primary and emergency care who express satisfaction with services received.

Post Exposure Prophylaxis: % of reporting refugee rape survivors given PEP within 72 hours (Target: 100%)

NGO proposals that seek to fund service provision may include the following indicators if appropriate:

Primary Care: # and % of refugee patients, by sex and age, receiving primary health care assistance.

Emergency Care: # and % of refugee patients, by sex and age, receiving care for trauma or sudden illness.

Proposals may also include their own custom indicators in addition to the standard indicator(s).

Proposals must have a concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound and trackable (SMART), have established baselines, and include at least one outcome or impact indicator per objective; objectives should be clearly linked to the sectors.

Proposals must adhere to relevant international standards for humanitarian assistance. See PRM’s General NGO Guidelines for a complete list of sector-specific standards.

PRM will accept proposals from any NGO working in the above mentioned sectors although, given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:

a working relationship with UNHCR, current UNHCR funding, and/or a letter of support from UNHCR for the proposed activities and/or overall country program (this letter should highlight the gap in services the proposed program is designed to address);

a proven track record in providing proposed assistance both in the sector and specified location;

evidence of coordination with international organizations (IOs) and other NGOs working in the same area or sector as well as – where possible – local authorities;

a strong transition plan, where feasible, involving local capacity-building;

a budget that demonstrates co-funding by non-US government sources.

Funding Limits: Project proposals must not be less than $100,000 and not more than $10,500,000 or they will be disqualified. As stated in PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting organization. Funding decisions will be made subject to the availability of funds.

Proposal Submission Requirements: Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov. See “Applicant Resources” page on Grants.gov for complete details on requirements (http://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp). Please also note the following highlights:

Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application on Grants.gov. Organizations not registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the deadline as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration (sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required registration numbers). To register with Grants.gov, organizations must first receive a DUNS number and register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov which can take weeks and sometimes months. We recommend that organizations, particularly first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov no later than one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties that could result in an application not being considered. PRM partners must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or an application under consideration by PRM or any federal agency.

Applications must be submitted under the authority of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) at the applicant organization. Having proposals submitted by agency headquarters helps to avoid possible technical problems.

If you encounter technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk atsupport@grants.gov or by calling 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are unable to submit applications via Grants.gov due to Grants.gov technical difficulties and who have reported the problem to the Grants.gov help desk, received a case number, and had a service request opened to research the problem, should contact the relevant PRM Program Officer to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.

International Organizations (IOs) should not submit proposals through Grants.gov in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Rather IOs such as UN agencies and other Public International Organizations (PIOs) that are seeking funding for programs relevant to this announcement should contact the relevant PRM Program Officer (as stated below) on or before the closing date of the funding announcement.

Pursuant to U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001, stated on OMB Standard Form 424 (SF-424), the Department of State is authorized to consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law or regulations for its federal assistance programs. The list of certifications and assurances can be found at:http://fa.statebuy.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=161&menu_id=68 )

Proposal Content, Formatting and Template: This announcement is designed to accompany PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, which contain additional administrative information on proposal content and formatting, and explain in detail PRM’s NGO funding strategy and priorities. Please use both the General NGO Guidelines and this announcement to ensure that your proposal submission is in full compliance with PRM requirements and that the proposed activities are in line with PRM’s priorities. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in these guidelines will not be considered.

PRM strongly recommends using the proposal and budget templates that are available upon email request fromPRM's NGO Coordinator. Please send an email, with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line, to PRM's NGO Coordinator. Single-year proposals using PRM’s templates must be no more than 20 pages in length (Times New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides). If the applicant does not use PRM’s recommended templates, proposals must not exceed 15 pages in length. Organizations may choose to attach work plans, activity calendars, and/or logical frameworks as addendums/appendices to the proposal. These attachments do not count toward the page limit total.

To be considered for PRM funding, organizations must submit a complete application package including:

Proposal reflecting objectives and indicators for each year of the program period.

Budget and budget narrative for each year of the program period.

Signed completed SF-424.

In addition, proposal submissions to PRM should include the following information:

Focus on outcome or impact indicators as much as possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one outcome or impact indicator. Wherever possible, baselines should be established before the start of the project.

To increase PRM’s ability to track the impact of PRM funding, include specific information on locations of projects and beneficiaries (GPS coordinates if possible).

Proposals should outline how the NGO will acknowledge PRM funding. If an organization believes that publicly acknowledging the receipt of USG funding for a particular PRM-funded project could potentially endanger the lives of the beneficiaries and/or the organization staff, invite suspicion about the organization's motives, or alienate the organization from the population it is trying to help, it must provide a brief explanation in its proposal as to why it should be exempted from this requirement.

The budget should include a specific breakdown of funds being provided by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own organization. PRM strongly encourages multilateral support for humanitarian programs.

Proposals and budgets should include details of any sub-agreements associated with the program.

Copy of the organization’s Code of Conduct (required before an award can be made).

Copy of the organization’s Security Plan (required before an award can be made).

Most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable.

NGOs that have not received PRM funding since the U.S. Government fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 must be prepared to demonstrate that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government by submitting copies of 1) the most recent external financial audit, 2) proof of non-profit tax status including under IRS 501 (c)(3), as applicable, 3) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, and 4) an Employer ID (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification number.

Organizations that received PRM funding in FY 2013 for activities that are being proposed for funding under this announcement must include the most recent quarterly progress report against indicators outlined in the cooperative agreement. If an organization’s last quarterly report was submitted more than six weeks prior to the submission of a proposal in response to this funding announcement, the organization must include, with its most recent quarterly report, updates that show any significant progress made on objectives since the last report.

Multi-Year Funding: Applicants proposing multi-year programs should adhere to the following guidance:

Applicants may submit proposals that include multi-year strategies presented in 12-month cycles for a period not to exceed 24 months from the proposed start date. Fully developed programs with detailed budgets, objectives and indicators are required for each year of activities. These can be updated yearly upon submission of continuation applications. Applicants should note that they may use PRM’s recommended multi-year proposal template for this application, which is different from the single year template. Multi-year funding applicants may also use PRM’s standard budget template and should submit a separate budget sheet for each project year. Multi-year proposals using PRM’s templates must be no more than 30 pages in length (Times New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides). If the applicant does not use PRM’s recommended templates, proposals must not exceed 25 pages in length. Organizations may choose to attach work plans, activity calendars, and/or logical frameworks as addendums/appendices to the proposal. These attachments do not count toward the page limit total.

Multi-year applications selected for funding by PRM will be funded in 12- month increments based on the proposal submitted in the initial application as approved by PRM. Continued funding after the initial 12- month award requires the submission of a noncompeting continuation application and will be contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need. Continuation applications must be submitted by the organization no later than 90 days before the proposed start date of the new award (e.g., if the next project period is to begin on September 1, submit your application by June 1). Continuation applications are submitted in lieu of responding to PRM’s published call for proposals for those activities. Late continuation applications will jeopardize continued funding.

Organizations can request multi-year funding and continuation application templates by emailing PRM's NGO Coordinator with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line.

Reports and Reporting Requirements:

Program reporting: PRM requires quarterly and final program reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the validity period of the agreement. It is highly suggested that NGOs receiving PRM funding use the PRM recommended program report template. To request this template, send an email with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line to PRM's NGO Coordinator.

Financial Reports: Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement; a final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement.

For more details regarding PRM’s reporting requirements, please see General NGO Guidelines.

Proposal Review Process:

PRM will conduct a formal competitive review of all proposals submitted in response to this funding announcement. A review panel will evaluate submissions based on the above-referenced proposal evaluation criteria and PRM priorities in the context of available funding.

PRM may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will provide formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.

Branding and Marking Strategy: Unless exceptions have been approved by the designated bureau Authorizing Official as described in the proposal templates that are available upon email request from PRM's NGO Coordinator, at a minimum, the following provision will be included whenever assistance is awarded:

As a condition of receipt of this assistance award, all materials produced pursuant to the award, including training materials, materials for recipients or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event, project, or some other activity under this agreement, including but not limited to invitations to events, press materials, event backdrops, podium signs, etc. must be marked appropriately with the standard U.S. flag in a size and prominence equal to (or greater than) any other logo or identity. Subrecipients and subsequent tier sub-award agreements are subject to the marking requirements and the recipient shall include a provision in the subrecipient agreement indicating that the standard, rectangular U.S. flag is a requirement. In the event the recipient does not comply with the marking requirements as established in the approved assistance agreement, the Grants Officer Representative and the Grants Officer must initiate corrective action.

PRM Points of Contact: Should NGOs have technical questions related to this announcement, they should contact the PRM staff listed below prior to proposal submission. (Note: Responses to technical questions from PRM do not indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.):

For Thailand proposals, contact PRM Program Officer Hoa Tran, TranHT3@state.gov, 202-453-9289, Washington, D.C.

For Malaysia proposals, contact PRM Program Officer Jennifer Handog, HandogJG@state.gov, 202-453-9286, Washington, DC.

Deputy Regional Refugee Coordinator Lillian Dowe, DoweRL@state.gov, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Refugee and Migration Affairs, Thailand.

Karen refugees in Mae La camp live in fear of forced return to Myanmar

Tens of thousands of ethnic Karen who fled fighting, and many born in Thai camp, fear reprisals if they are sent back to Myanmar

The Mae La camp near the Myanmar border which houses around 40,000 people. Photo: Andrew Chant

The only home that 15-year-old Kaw Wah has ever known is the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's Tak province. It sits close to the frontier with Myanmar, but Kaw Wah has not visited the country his parents hail from.

"I've never been to Myanmar. I was born in Mae La and I've spent my entire life here," he said.

Kaw Wah, 15, was born in campKaw Wah is one of the 130,000 Myanmese refugees living in Thailand who have never seen their homeland.

Most, like him, are ethnic Karen who fled to avoid the fighting between the Karen National Liberation Army and Myanmar's military that has engulfed the country's southeast for much of the last 64 years.

Now, though, they face the prospect of being forced back to Myanmar, with Thailand making it clear it no longer wants them and other countries such as the United States refusing to accept any more group applications to resettle the Karen.

Pressure has been mounting for the refugees to be repatriated ever since Myanmar embarked on the democratic reforms that have seen the one-time pariah state welcomed back into the global fold.

Yet few are keen to return to the homes they have not seen for years, citing the ongoing violence as the KNLA continues to battle for its own independent state, and human rights abuses committed by Myanmar's army.

"It's not safe to return to my village. The Burmese might arrest us, or even kill us," said Kyaw Hkin, a 64-year-old grandfather who has lived in Mae La for 20 years. "We were treated very badly before. I've seen the army come into my village and beat people or make them be porters for the soldiers. I know they use Karen people to walk ahead of the army through minefields."

Nor does the United Nations High Commission for Refugees believe that the time is right for the refugees to be sent home.

It's not safe to return to my village. The Burmese might arrest us, or even kill us

REFUGEE KYAW HKIN

"At the moment, we feel the situation is not yet conducive for a safe and dignified return," said Vivian Tan, the UNHCR's spokeswoman in Bangkok.

"There will need to be permanent ceasefires and peace talks. Landmines will need to be mapped and cleared. There need to be guarantees of physical safety and that basic rights will be respected upon return."

The biggest of nine refugee camps strung along the Thai-Myanmar border, Mae La is a squalid collection of closely packed wooden huts, bisected by mud paths, that sprawls for over three kilometres.

Around 40,000 people are confined behind the barbed wire that marks Mae La's boundaries. Unable to work in Thailand legally, they are not even allowed to leave the camp for any length of time.

Despite that, a survey conducted this summer revealed that 90 per cent of the refugees in Mae La don't want to go back to Myanmar. But the Thai authorities are already planning their departure.

"The Thai officials have told us that maybe in the next year or two we will have to return," said Kyaw Hkin.

No longer regarded as a priority by aid organisations, the refugees' food allowance is now being progressively cut.

"In 2014, the rice ration will go down to eight kilos a month from the 12 kilos we get now. It's not going to be enough food for us. We'll go hungry," said a section leader in Mae La who asked to be known as Eh K Lu. "We're reliant on the donors and they say they have no more money for us."

Even with the prospect of starving in the camps, the refugees say they will not voluntarily return to villages and farms occupied by Myanmar's army and strewn with landmines.

"It's not going to be easy for the Thais to make us leave. We will resist being sent back. Even if the Thai army comes, we will defend ourselves," said Eh K Lu. "We've been here so long, this is our home now."

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Refugees dread forced return to homeland

Burma Refugees Among Top Five Globally for US Resettlement

RANGOON — Burmese refugees are among the top five nationalities to be resettled to the United States in 2013, along with Iraqis, Bhutanese, Somalis and Cubans, according to a US announcement on Tuesday.

The US State Department said a total of 69,930 refugees were brought to the United States in the 2012-13 fiscal year, a number closer to the authorized annual ceiling—this year set at 70,000—than in any year since 1980.

A country-specific breakdown of the total refugees resettled in the United States was not provided by the State Department, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that 5,258 Burmese refugees were resettled in the United States from January to August this year.

“The United States has a strong tradition of welcoming refugees, many of whom have fled unspeakable horrors and persecution,” the State Department’s statement said. “The Obama administration is committed to maintaining a strong refugee admissions program as an integral component of the government effort to offer protection to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”

For fiscal year 2013-14, US President Barack Obama has again authorized the admission of up to 70,000 refugees, and the country’s refugee program “expect[s] to admit more than 60 nationalities with continued strong arrivals from Iraq, Burma, and Bhutan.”

“Their presence makes our country more diverse, our culture richer, and our national character stronger,” the statement read, adding that the refugees were resettled in 186 communities across 49 US states.

On Oct. 1, which marked the beginning of the 2013-14 fiscal year in the United States, the US federal government suspended all “nonessential” government services pending resolution of a budget impasse in the US Congress. Last week, The Irrawaddy reported that the country’s refugee resettlement program was among the services affected by the 16-day government shutdown.

A refugee aid program on the Thai-Burma border on Thursday told The Irrawaddy that resettlement flights for refugees had been suspended. A spokesperson from the US Embassy in Rangoon confirmed on Friday that the program had been affected, despite the resolution of the US budget crisis and resumption of services on Oct. 17.

The embassy spokesperson told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the program was back on track.

“We expect the refugee program is continuing as usual now that the shutdown is over,” the official said.

According to the UNHCR, about 87,000 Burmese refugees have been resettled in third countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan and nations of the European Union. The United States accepts the lion’s share, having taken in more than 69,000 Burmese refugees from 2005 to August 2013.

‘We Will Leave the Book of Burma Open’

As Burma grapples with issues such as the return of refugees and the need to help families displaced by civil wars, The Irrawaddy reporter May Kha recently spoke with Khin Yi, the minister of immigration and population, about his role in the peace process. In this interview, he also discusses nationwide census efforts, the development of a permanent residency system and the need to improve Burmese ID cards, while also sharing his thoughts on ceasefires.

Question: What is your role in the peace process, as head of the Ministry of Immigration and Population (MIP)?

Answer: The new government has prioritized the peace process and formed the Union Peacemaking Central Committee, headed by the president. I am a member of this committee. I am also a member of the peace negotiation team from the President’s Office, headed by Minister Aung Min. I am deeply involved with issues related to the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Karen people.

Immigration works are affiliated with the peace process because we will have to deal with citizenship issues for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees who will be returning home after peace has prevailed in their areas.

Q: Please tell us the latest developments regarding a nationwide census planned by the MIP.

A: We will conduct a nationwide census in 2014. Currently we are implementing census-related awareness raising activities. There are about 60 million people and about 11 million households in Burma. We have 70 districts; 330 townships; 3,051 quarters; 13,620 village tracts and 64,346 villages in 14 divisions and states. We also have a total of 135 ethnic groups.

Q: Will Muslims living in Arakan State be included in the census?

A: Muslims in Arakan State will be included in the census. Except for diplomats and people working for foreign missions abroad, everyone living in Burma’s boundaries within the specific period of time will be listed. Whether people are Muslims or they belong to any particular ethnic group, they will be in the census.

Q: What policy have you developed to deal with Burmese refugees and illegal immigrants who are currently living in Thailand and Malaysia, both inside and outside refugee camps, with stateless status?

A: After ceasefire agreements with different armed groups have been consolidated, there will be programs for land mine clearance and the resettlement of members of those groups and their relatives. Such programs target those who left their country due to internal conflicts, including people in refugee camps. That means people in refugee camps who are in this category will be reconsidered Burmese citizens.

As for migrant workers, many of them left the country illegally. So, to make their journey convenient, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the MIP have coordinated and issued temporary passports for them. In this process, the MIP is responsible for verifying if they are Burmese citizens. In Thailand, we opened 11 camps before to issue temporary passports for migrant workers from our country, but only four of them remain now since the process is about to finish.

Q: What arrangements have you made to accept returning refugees?

A: We are preparing. We will facilitate them in attaining citizenship. In this effort, we have to consider four sections of the law. The first is related to dual citizenship. Section 13 of the law does not allow any Burmese citizen to acquire citizenship of another country, so if someone wants to reapply for Burmese citizenship, he or she needs to give up the other. Section 16 also states that, “A citizen who leaves the state permanently, or who acquires the citizenship of or registers himself as a citizen of another country, or who takes out a passport or a similar certificate of another country, ceases to be a citizen.”

Furthermore, Section 22 bars people from reapplying for citizenship status, saying that a person whose citizenship has ceased or has been revoked shall have no right to apply again for citizenship or associate citizenship or naturalized citizenship. However, according to Section 8(A), the government can offer citizenship status, as it says, “The council of state may, in the interest of the state, confer on any person citizenship or associate citizenship or naturalized citizenship.” In any case, no one can acquire dual citizenship. So, there are things for those who want to be Burmese citizens again to decide.

Q: How will the permanent residence (PR) system allow Burmese people who are citizens of another country to come back and work in Burma in the long term? 

A: With the guidance of the president, a PR system was prepared for foreigners to stay in Burma permanently. This system will allow foreign assistance and intellectuals to come, which is needed for the development of the country, and also Burmese scholars to return home and contribute to their country. His goodwill intention for developing the PR system is to encourage national reconciliation—to reconstruct the country with those who had to leave for various reasons. It was not easy to develop it, though, as we had to link up with existing domestic laws. So far, the bylaw for the PR has been developed in consultation with and approval by the office of the attorney general. The government has also approved it.

Q: What provisions are included? For instance, how long can people stay, what will be their entitlements, and under what conditions can their PR status be revoked? 

A: I am worried about leaking information before it has been publicized officially. To be brief, the initial length of stay permitted by this PR system is five years, and that can be extended. However, the application for the extension will be decided by a PR board.

Q: More foreigners are coming to Burma these days. What kinds of visa can they apply for?

A: There are six types of visas: tourist, business, social, entry—for workshop, training, etc.—as well as diplomatic and multi-entry. Some student visas are included in the entry [category] and some are in the business category. We have yet to issue a separate visa for religious purposes—that is still included in the entry category. We are considering whether to issue a separate visa for that.

Q: What is a social visa?

A: An invitation from someone living inside the country is needed to apply for a social visa. It will allow for 28 days and cost US$36. The life of this visa is three months but it can be extended three months at a time for up to one year. With a social visa, you can either stay at home or somewhere else.

Q: People say that ID cards are easy to duplicate. Do you have any thoughts on how to tackle this matter? 

A: Since the current ID cards were made of paper, you can say they are easy to duplicate. About 70 percent of the country’s 60 million population are living in rural areas and do not have very much money, so the government came up with a plan of using paper so that everyone could afford it. We are now preparing to replace them with “smart cards,” which have devices to protect against duplication. We have received offers from a number of countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Korea and England to develop these cards. We are currently at a learning stage. We will definitely replace the existing cards with smart ones.

Q: Can you say that the government now provides the best protection for its border exits?

A: Burma neighbors five countries, and there are 16 official exit points along its borders. There may be many other unofficial ones, through which people can enter and exit. To set up a mechanism to systematically examine people going in and out of the country, the MIP submitted a proposal to the government. It is a system using machines to examine people with their fingerprints. We also have a plan to set up a communications system to get in touch in a timely way between border areas and the central headquarters. I served as the director-general of the police force before, and I can say that there is no absolutely perfect security system in any country in the world.

Q: Will a “comprehensive ceasefire” be reached in October? 

A: What the government has planned for October is a “nationwide ceasefire.” We have already had ceasefire agreements with 14 groups. Only two [of the major] ethnic [armed] groups, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), have not yet signed. We will meet with them again this month and talk about it.

It is true that some clashes have occurred after ceasefires. Of course, we need to find ways to consolidate such agreements. To do so, we need to develop the “dos and don’ts” for both sides. There must be a mechanism to monitor whether they are following those rules and practices.

Ceasefire is the most fundamental for peace. We cannot solve the problem unless we deal with it politically. To hold political talks, ceasefires need to be consolidated. We cannot reverse the process. So, to move forward, signing ceasefire agreements is needed. As Aung Min said, we will start with whoever wants to join us and leave the book open for others to come later and sign if they want. Otherwise, we cannot move forward.

After much hardship, thriving in a new land

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Sixth-grade teacher Natalie Rosati (right) helps students (from left) Baw Reh, Sarah Trefz, and Kyaw Kyaw during a presentation at Oaklyn Public School. TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

By Kevin Riordan, Inquirer Columnist

Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Kyaw Kyaw did his homework in a candlelit hut. Books were shared. Paper was precious, too.

There are no candles but plenty of books, paper, and power at the Oaklyn Public School, where 11-year-old Kyaw Kyaw (sounds like cha cha) is thriving in sixth grade.

"He's better here," says his uncle, Kai Zu, who, like Kyaw, left a refugee camp for the United States in 2009 and lives in a borough apartment. "It's wonderful."

Twenty-two students whose families fled Burma, the troubled Southeast Asian nation also known as Myanmar, are enrolled at Oaklyn's sole school, a weathered but well-kept structure built on Kendall Boulevard in 1926.

Oaklyn is sending an additional six Burmese refugees to Collingswood, its receiving high school district, for grades 10 through 12. All of the students are among the 512 Burmese adults and children whom Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Camden has resettled in South Jersey in the last five years.

Most of the newcomers reside in older suburban communities along transit lines in Camden and Atlantic Counties. Some have moved to Oaklyn after Catholic Charities initially found them housing in nearby towns.

By all accounts, the Oaklyn students - and their families - are doing well, despite legacies of ethnic or religious persecution in Burma, and privations and dangers in the refugee camps in countries such as Thailand.

Like Kyaw's uncle, who works at a Wal-Mart in Cherry Hill, the majority have jobs. A Burmese refugee named Mad Shin, 41, bought an Oaklyn bungalow with his wife, who works for a Gloucester County food company.

Three of their children are enrolled at Oaklyn Public, and the oldest, who is 14, has become so English-proficient, she translates for her dad.

Longtime school board member Bill Stauts worries, however, that the district - with barely 400 students and a $7.5 million budget - has more than what he calls its "fair share" of Burmese refugees.

Stauts expressed his concerns at a Sept. 30 Borough Council meeting and to me when I called him last week.

Speaking as a private citizen, the retired insurance broker, 71, says: "These kids have had a tough life. They're not bad kids. We don't have any problems with them.

"I'm perfectly happy to accept the kids we should be accepting, to accept our percentage, and provide the services we can to our fair share. But not to somebody else's fair share."

Kevin H. Hickey, the executive director of Catholic Charities in the diocese, says such concerns are not new. "It's a legitimate issue, and we're concerned about it. We're always trying to figure out 'how many is too many' for one community. We can always do a better job."

No new arrivals from Burma have enrolled at Oaklyn this year. The school saw only one in 2012, principal Jen Boulden says.

Also, Hickey notes that the total number of all refugees coming through his office has fallen to 100 annually from a peak of 300 a few years ago.

The smaller number strikes me as more practical - particularly after I talk to Liz Solowey, Oaklyn's dynamic ESL teacher. "Some of these kids are literally coming from a hut on the side of a mountain to [life with] electricity, running water, shoes on their feet," she says. "But they want to learn. They're never absent. They want to be here seven days a week."

The enthusiasm is evident when I visit Kyaw's class. Even during some sort of grammar lesson, the three Burmese students and all their classmates, for that matter, seem bright and engaged.

Something good is happening here, and Oaklyn and Catholic Charities need to make sure their partnership continues to flourish.

"We need to reach out" to the community, Hickey says.

"Let's have a conversation."

Yes. By all means do.

kriordan@phillynews.com856-779-3845 @inqkriordan

Employers try to introduce Probation for migrant workers challeged by MTUC

MTUC ticks off employers, saying probation period would shortchange foreign workers

Malaysia’s main workers group has criticised employers who want a probation period and to pay 30% less for foreign workers with temporary work permits despite a government ban on the practice.

Putrajaya had issued a circular on July 11 saying that probation periods would not be applicable to foreign employees holding temporary work permits. There are an estimated two million foreign workers in Malaysia.

“The employers’ call on the government to withdraw the circular issued on July 11 which stated that a probation period is not applicable to foreign employees holding temporary working permits is most inconsiderate and inappropriate,” Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general Abdul Halim Mansor said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

He pointed out that all contracts of foreign workers do not stipulate a probation period, adding the workers had already been interviewed on their fitness and capabilities to fulfil the job requirements.

He also said the government had already given a blanket approval to Malaysian firms to pass the workers’ levy from employers to the workers although the MTUC was critical of that decision.

Abdul Halim also said despite all concessions, the employers’ are now demanding a further 30% reduction on the grounds that the workers are probationers, adding this was unreasonable.

“If we accept the employers’ unreasonable demand that foreign workers should be paid less during their probationary period then they will only be getting a miserable RM450 – after the deductions for the levy and accommodation.

“Employers demanding this should first check their conscience to see if one can survive with just RM 450. The employers should not be so inconsiderate,” Abdul Halim said.

He said the government must stand firm on its decision not to allow employers to mandatorily reduce the minimum wage of foreign workers during the period of probation.

“It is very clear that employers are only thinking of their profit and not the welfare of the employees,” the MTUC secretary-general said. – July 30, 2013.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

US Budget Crisis Hits Home for Burma-Thai Border Refugees

By SAW YAN NAING / THE IRRAWADDY

RANGOON — Though Washington has sent its federal employees back to work after a 16-day crisis of governance, Burmese refugees in Thailand who were preparing to resettle in the United States are still finding those plans put on hold a day after most US government services resumed.

Vivian Tan, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok, confirmed to The Irrawaddy that resettlement flights have been temporarily suspended due to developments in Washington.

“Our partners working in the resettlement program in Thailand have been informing the affected refugees. Everything should resume once the shutdown is resolved,” Tan said on Thursday.

“Should” being the operative word.

As of Friday, an official at the US Embassy in Rangoon said the program for refugees in camps along the Thai border remained on hold, despite the resumption of most federal government services on Thursday.

“We understand that the program will resume, but I don’t have any further details for you at this time,” the official said, when asked by The Irrawaddy if resolution of the US budget impasse meant the resettlement program would resume.

On Thursday, the US Congress passed a bill that raised the federal debt ceiling and reopened the government. “Nonessential” government services, from the United States’ national parks system to its space exploration program, had been suspended since Oct. 1, when US lawmakers could not muster the votes to continue funding the government. The US refugee resettlement program was also on the list of nonessential services.

There are more than 120,000 Burmese refugees living on the Thai-Burma border in nine refugee camps. About 80,000 Burmese refugees have been settled in third countries in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, with the United States receiving the largest number of resettled Burmese.

Contacted by The Irrawaddy earlier, the US Embassy official said the resettlement program was still operating in a limited capacity.

“The United States has been forced to suspend the majority of refugee arrivals for the duration of the government shutdown. This is because services upon which refugees rely after their arrival are not available in many locations,” the official said on Thursday, adding that the suspension leaves thousands of refugees approved for resettlement sitting in limbo.

“However, we have been able to work with resettlement agencies around the country to continue to bring in the most vulnerable refugees over the coming weeks. State agencies and local communities that are finding ways to assist these refugees despite the shutdown deserve extra recognition for their efforts,” the official added.

Most of the refugees fled Burma due to government army attacks in their home regions. Many of them have been living in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border for more than two decades.

As reforms have been introduced by the new civilian government of President Thein Sein, foreign donors who have been supporting the refugees for over 20 years have begun to push for their return home.

However, most of the refugees have indicated that they would prefer resettlement to a third country, or to remain in Thailand. According to a survey conducted earlier this month in the largest of the Thai border camps, 90 percent preferred one or both of those options over repatriation, with respondents citing safety and economic concerns, among other worries about starting life anew in Burma.

Recently, The Border Consortium (TBC), an nongovernmental organization that provides food and other services to the refugees, reported that rice rations for many of the refugees would be reduced in the near future due to a reduction in funding for its organization. Under the revised rice rations plan, households are categorized according to their level of need, with four groups: self-reliant, standard, vulnerable and most vulnerable. Self-reliant households will see a cut in rice rations for adults.

The TBC said that the funding for humanitarian work has dropped as donors redirect their funds to programs preparing for the return of refugees to Burma.

UNHCR: Only 10pc of refugees in Malaysia resettled last year

PETALING JAYA: The process to resettle refugees takes years given their huge numbers and limited places for resettlement, said United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Yante Ismail.

There are 10.5 million refugees worldwide and only about 80,000 get resettled each year. Some 10,000 refugees from Malaysia were resettled to third countries last year.

“This number is based on the availability of places offered by third countries,” Yante said.

As of April, there are 103,010 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. Almost 95,000 of them are from Myanmar.

Yante said that refugees in Malaysia were resettled to countries such as Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States.

“Given the size of the population of refugees, and the limited number of resettlement places, this process could take several years,” said Yante.

”Resettlement is made available to refugees who cannot return home or continue to stay in the host country, but it is not a right or an automatic solution for all refugees,” she added.

Yante was responding to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidiwho urged the UNHCR to seriously look into expediting the resettlement process of Myanmar UNHCR card holders to third countries.

His statement came in the wake of violence involving Myanmar nationals in Kuala Lumpur, which left three people dead and a few others injured.

Government urged to end detention of child refugees

PETALING JAYA: Several non-governmental organisations (NGO) have come together to urge the government to do away with the detention of all children, especially refugee and asylum-seeking children as it has a lasting psychological effect on them.

A coalition of several children's rights NGOs in Malaysia took up a United Nations call urging governments to end child detention by participating in a month-long campaign that began on Sept 25.

The campaign, called End Immigration Detention of Children, aims to educate people on child detentions and invite the public to submit 3,000 postcards on what freedom means to them. Their feedback will be handed to the relevant authorities.

A two-day event featuring skits, talks and exhibition was held at Publika Square and Publika Black Bridge in Kuala Lumpur.

Refugee children and activists fighting for the cause shared the horror of being detained at the 12 detention centers all over Malaysia, which are often overcrowded and lacking in the most basic facilities.

The coalition highlighted seven main problems at the immigration detention centers - overcrowding, lack of food and clean water, poor medical care, poor sanitation, limited number of bedding and the lack of special protection or procedure for children in the centers.

Malaysia has a large refugee and asylum seeker population, mainly from Myanmar. Official data on the number of children in immigration detention is not publicly available.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Malaysia (http://www.unhcr.org.my) as of the end of August 2013, there are some 108,336 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia. There are some 25, 000 children below the age of 18.

Tenaganita programme officer Katrina Jorene Maliamauv said detainees in centers are stripped of their dignity.

"Those detained are often whipped and forced to live in abominable conditions. The effects of the detention lasts well beyond the detention centers. It is worse for children," she said in a speech.

Voices of Children chairperson Sharmila Sekaran said it was not right that children are detained although they did not commit any offence.

"Most of the time, these children are running away from something, for example the situation in Syria. These children are already at a disadvantage and putting them in detention centers is neither beneficial nor helpful," she said.

She added that many of these children are detained for three months to over a year, a long period in a child's life.

"What we are doing here is asking the government and society to look at alternatives to deal with the refugee children," she said.

According to studies, children in detention are 10 times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders and that detention for a short period of time can damage their mental health and development.

These children are more exposed to the possibility of separation anxiety, disrupted conduct, suicide attempts, loss of language, poor eating, nightmares, self-harm and mutism.

Alternative methods to child detention are already being practiced by Hong Kong and other countries.

The International Detention coalition recommended the Community Assessment and Placement model - a guideline to help governments come up with alternative methods to detention.

Those wishing to learn more about the campaign or participate can visit endchilddetention.org or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EIDCMalaysia.

Undocumented Myanmar workers in Malaysia allowed to return home without being charged

Myanmar Labour Minister said he has reached an agreement with Malaysian authorities for the undocumented Myanmar workers in Malaysia to be allowed to return home without being charged.

Mr. Aye Myint, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, and other senior officials went to Malaysia between September 9 and 12 to discuss the issue of illegal Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia. They held a press conference on their arrival in Yangon on September 12.

“Our main concern is the undocumented Myanmar workers. For those who want to work there legally, we will issue official documents to them. Next, we have negotiated for the runaway workers who are no longer needed by their employers, and the kids at the [detention] centres not to be charged under the Malaysian laws,” said Aye Myint at the press conference.

There are over 1000 Myanmar migrant workers who are waiting to return home. Previously, each undocumented worker was charged 400 Malaysia Ringgits under the Malaysian law.

Meanwhile, Myanmar migrant workers who will return home will be required to undergo verification tests that involve using bio-metric system to confirm if they are actual Myanmar nationals, according to the minister.

“Fingerprints of all the ten fingers will be taken from those who will return to Myanmar. Iris scans will also be carried out. It is important to confirm that they are Myanmar nationals. After we have collected the data in this way, they will be sent to the Immigration Department in Myanmar, and verifications will be made. Then, they will be able to come back home,” said Minister Aye Myint.

There are over 250,000 Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia. Among them, over 110,000 are undocumented workers, and some 8000 of them are holding UNHCR refugee cards, Aye Myint said.

Since the bouts of violent attacks on Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia a few months ago, hundreds of Myanmar nationals have been returning home every month.

Celebrities join forces to honour courageous Congolese nun

GENEVA, October (UNHCR) – British singer Dido and other acclaimed musicians from around the world took part in the recent tribute in Geneva to this year's Nansen Refugee Award winner, Congolese nun Angélique Namaika, as other celebrities used social media to praise the laureate and highlight her work.

Also performing at the presentation ceremony for the prestigious UNHCR award were Grammy Award-nominated musicians Amadou and Mariam from Mali and Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. The widely read Brazilian author Paolo Coelho gave a keynote address before UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres handed the Nansen Medal to Sister Angélique.

The Nansen Refugee Award honours extraordinary service to the forcibly displaced. Sister Angélique Namaika, a 46-year-old Roman Catholic nun, was recognized for her key role in helping more than 2,000 women who had been victims of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army in and around the remote town of Dungu in north-east Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Most had been forcibly displaced and suffered abuse, including rape. Through her Centre for Reintegration and Development, the Sister helped them recover from trauma, learn a trade and become self-sufficient.

Global star Dido said it was an honour to meet and play for the Nansen Award winner. "Many of the women Sister Angélique helps have been through the most appalling abuse and to do what she does with so little is humbling," she said. The women and girls who come to Sister Angélique tell her stories of abduction, forced labour, beatings, murder, rape and other human rights abuses.

Amadou and Mariam also had high praise for the winner. "So many families have suffered because of violence in DR Congo and it was an honour to perform for someone who has helped so many vulnerable women and girls. A great evening," they said in a statement.

Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna, who is making a global name for herself, said she was "deeply proud" to have performed at the 2013 Nansen presentation ceremony. "It was a privilege to be part of the ceremony that honours the extraordinary humanitarian work of individuals helping refugees."

Celebrities also took to social media to highlight the achievements of Sister Angélique. These included Stephen Fry, Yoko Ono, Peter Gabriel, Paula Abdul, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, Luol Deng, Kat Graham, Khaled Hosseini, Iman, Alek Wek, Bastian Baker and Henning Mankell, bringing the Nansen message to an potential social media audience of more than 95 million worldwide.

UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie issued a special message to honour the Nansen laureate: "I warmly congratulate Sister Angélique Namaika, this year's Nansen Refugee Award laureate, for her outstanding and truly inspiring work to support vulnerable displaced women and children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Nansen Refugee Award recognizes her extraordinary contribution and the manner in which she has positively impacted the lives of thousands of displaced people in the DRC. Sister Angélique's work can also help to draw attention to the devastating effects of rape and sexual violence and the need for justice and help for survivors."

Time to go home?

During decades of military rule and ethnic conflict, hundreds of thousands of people fled Burma. Many have since been resettled abroad, but 140,000 people are still living in camps on the Thai-Burmese border.

The UN’s refugee agency has resettled 2,000 people back to Burma, but this week’s debate asks: are conditions right in the country for the rest to follow?

The DVB Debate panelists this week are: associate director at Myanmar Peace Center, Aung Naing Oo; co-ordinator at Kachin Peace Network, Khon Ja; and programme director for The Border Consortium, Nilar Myaing.

The panel disagreed about when refugee repatriation would be possible, although they concurred that conditions were not conducive for refugees to return immediately.


Khon Ja said the UNHCR’s plan to return 50,000 refugees to Burma by the end of December was “impossible”.

She said even though ceasefires were being discussed between rebel groups and the Burmese army, military presence in ethnic areas was increasing.

A large number of refugees were born in camps on the Thai side of the border and, according to Nilar Myaing, many of them don’t trust the Burmese government.

“For the children who were raised in refugee camps, it will be hard to come back since there is a big difference between Thailand and Burma,” Nilar Myaing said.

Aung Naing Oo said while the Myanmar Peace Centre is helping with the peace process, it doesn’t have any authority and cannot make decisions.

“The military has its own policy,” he said.

He went on to say that there are parts of Karen state that are now safe to return to.

Khon Ja disagreed and said more people were being displaced through large development projects in ethnic areas.

“The military will have to be involved throughout the peace process,” she said. “They will have to keep their promises and their agreements.”

Audience member Jaw Gon, from the Kachin Peace Network, sided with Khon Ja and said the government wasn’t being transparent.

“On the one hand, the government is working on the peace process and on the other, they are creating problems for the people.”

Aung Naing Oo stressed the importance of a nationwide ceasefire, but said it would only be the beginning and that it would take time for political solutions to be implemented

Returning migrant workers endure complicated journey

On 8 October, 175 Myanmar laborers returned from Malaysia, benefiting from the largesse of Myanmar Airways International (MAI) and the Sitagu Sasana Social Aid Group led by Sitagu Syadaw U Nyarneikthara. Yet for some of these workers their trip home is not yet over.


Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, where the workers had allegedly been assured that they would be transported directly to their homes, their sponsors failed to follow through on their promise. As a result, many of the workers were left stranded at the airport.

When contacted in regard to this situation,Sitagu Sasana Social Aid Group replied, “We took responsibility for [the workers] until they reached Yangon. We said nothing more than that to them.”

One of the returning laborers, Aung Myo, commented, “[Prior to coming home] we were arrested [in Malaysia] and spent eight months in a refugee camp. We had to stay about five months after deducting remission. We were informed that we would be taken back to our homes and now the arrangement has been changed.”


Of the 175 workers on the MAI flight, forty-six have yet to get in touch with family members.

In the meantime, 88-Generation Peace and Open Society collected the marooned laborers and pledged to look after them while they remain in Yangon.

Mar Mar Oo from 88-Generation Peace affirmed, “We will take care [of the workers] for tonight and then we will present their cases to [the responsible authorities]. We have already informed the director general [of the Labor Department] about their situation and difficulties.”

The Ministry of Laborhas also provided each worker with 5,000 kyats(approx. US$5) in assistance.

18 Myanmar refugees arrive in Japan on resettlement program

Four families from Myanmar comprising 18 people arrived Friday evening in Tokyo on a pilot refugee resettlement program Japan introduced in fiscal 2010.

The families are of ethnic minorities in Myanmar, including Karen. They had been living in a refugee camp in Thailand across Myanmar's border. After going through a 180-day program in Tokyo for vocational training and Japanese language study, they will decide on their employment options and where to settle.

After arriving at Narita airport on a flight from Bangkok, the refugees seemed tired but looked relieved at the sight of their Japanese hosts.

A 36-year-old man spent seven years in a refugee camp before coming to Japan with his wife and a child. He said he appreciated the warm welcome and expressed wishes to take up work after studying Japanese.

The so-called third country resettlement program seeks to relocate people who have fled their home country to a nearby country. Japan set an annual quota of 30 refugees from Myanmar and extended the program's period to five years from three.

Japan only accepted a total of 45 such people in the first two years of the program and received none last year.

The underwhelming interest apparently stems from potential participants not being fully aware of the conditions they can expect in Japan, including the terms of resettlement. Tokyo may need to examine whether it moves on from a pilot to a full-fledged program.