In report, watchdog says human rights in Malaysia on downward trend

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 — The human rights situation in Malaysia showed a “marked deterioration” in 2016 due to increased arrests of government critics and expanded restrictions on public assembly, the Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2017. The report, which was released tonight, detailed the state of human rights in more than 90 countries. “The Malaysian government has responded to corruption allegations by throwing respect for rights out the window,” said Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director Phil Robertson in a statement. “By bringing a slew of prosecutions against those expressing dissenting views or peacefully protesting, the government is seriously undermining democratic institutions and the rights of all Malaysian citizens,” he added. The report cited the extensive use of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) to arrest those who are deemed critical of the government.

The CMA was also used to charge editor-in-chief of the Malaysiakini news website Steven Gan and CEO Premesh Chandran after its video arm uploaded the video of a press conference calling for the Attorney-General to resign. It also cited the November 18 arrest of Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, where she was held 11 days under the controversial law that provides for detention without trial. “The Malaysian government should step back from its repressive course, bring its laws into line with international standards, and start respecting fully the rights of everyone in Malaysia,” Robertson said. The report also said that the police torture of suspects in custody remained a “serious problem” in 2016, while a lack of accountability for police brutality also remained an issue.

The report also raised issue regarding Malaysia’s anti-trafficking efforts, saying that it had failed to effectively implement amendments made in 2014 to its anti-trafficking law. “No progress has been made in identifying and investigating suspects involved in the deaths of over 100 suspected victims of trafficking whose bodies were found in mass graves on the Thai-Malaysian border in 2015,” he added.

Over 150,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the vast majority of whom come from Myanmar, have registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia but are unable to work, travel, or enrol in government schools. The lack of status leaves them highly vulnerable to abuses,” the report added.

It also noted judicial freedom as an area of concern, over proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act that it said would allow the government to “interfere” with the Bar’s actions. “In addition, they would increase the quorum needed for a general meeting from 500 to 4,000 members, or 25 per cent of the bar’s 17,000 membership, making it virtually impossible for the bar to take action at its general meetings.

The bill to amend the Legal Profession Act is likely be introduced when parliament next sits in March 2017,” it said. It also described discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Malaysia to be “pervasive”. “Numerous Sharia-based laws and regulations prohibiting a “man posing as a woman,” sexual relations between women, and sexual relations between men effectively criminalize LGBT people,” the report added. -

http://www.themalaymailonline.com

UNHCR welcomes Thailand’s approval of framework for refugee screening mechanism

The UN Refugee Agency Monday expressed a warm welcome for the Thai Government’s recent approval of a framework to enhance the identification and protection of refugees.


Last Tuesday, the Cabinet approved in principle a proposal to finalise and implement a screening mechanism for undocumented immigrants and refugees.

Following the approval, a deputy government spokesman the process will be led by the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police, working with a newly-created inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Prime Minister or his deputy.

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Together they will build on an existing draft by the Council of State and finalize a detailed draft Regulation to be presented for approval by the Cabinet. He added that this would be done in collaboration and cooperation with foreign governments or foreign government agencies, international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations.

UNHCR said in a press statement Monday that it has long been advocating for such a screening mechanism in a country that has hosted more than 1 million refugees over the years without a comprehensive legal framework. Under Thailand’s current Immigration Act, urban refugees and asylum-seekers can be considered “illegal aliens” and are subject to arrest and detention if they do not have valid documentation.

“This Cabinet action represents an important and concrete step towards creating an appropriate regulatory framework for refugee management and protection in Thailand,” the statement quoted Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR’s Representative in Thailand, as saying. “We hope it will clearly establish the criteria and methodology for deciding who is and isn’t a refugee, and outline their rights and obligations in Thailand.”

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Last week’s announcement builds upon specific pledges designed to improve protection and solutions for refugees in Thailand made by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the September 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, and the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees convened by US President Barack Obama in New York.

“With more than 65 million people forcibly displaced globally, it is crucial that States and international actors work hand in hand to respond to growing humanitarian needs,” said Menikdiwela. “It is heart-warming to see Thailand acting upon pledges made in New York, and once again taking a leadership role in the ASEAN region in addressing complex issues related to refugees and stateless persons.”

UNHCR continues to offer technical and other assistance in full support of finalizing and implementing an appropriate regulatory framework for refugee management and protection in Thailand, the statement added.

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The country currently hosts nearly 8,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in urban areas and more than 102,000 Myanmar refugees in nine camps on the border with Myanmar.

Refugee ban likely to top Trump's agenda on Wednesday

• Trump will take executive actions directing federal funds toward building the border wall

• He's also expected to target so-called sanctuary cities

• Trump is planning major National Security decisions on Wednesday

WASHINGTON, U.S. - A White House official has confirmed the president will take executive actions on Wednesday directing federal funds toward building the proposed border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

He's also expected to target so-called sanctuary cities where local leaders refuse to hand over illegal immigrants for deportation.

The newly inaugurated president is also said to be weighing proposals that would restrict the flow of refugees to the country.

Hinting at the announcement, on Tuesday, Trump tweeted, "Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!"

Trump will make the announcement during a visit to the Department of Homeland Security at 1:25 p.m. ET as part of sweeping and immediate changes to the nation’s immigration system.

To build the wall without needing Congressional approval, Trump could make use of a 2006 law, Secure Fence Act, which authorized several hundred miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile frontier.

That bill led to the construction of about 700 miles of various kinds of fencing along the border with Mexico.

Throughout the campaign in the run-up to the election, Trump reiterated his pledge to bring illegal immigration under control and Wednesday's actions would represent Trump’s first effort to deliver on what he believes is what led him to victory.

The details of how the refugee program will be dealt with are still unclear.

Expectations in his inner circle are that Trump would take action on visas and refugees on Thursday.

According to reports, an order is being prepared with drastic measures to suspend the entire refugee program for four months for Trump’s sign off.

The measure is being proposed in a bid to gauge which nationality of migrants posed the least risk for U.S. National Security.

Further, reports noted that the program that facilitates the admission of Syrian refugees in the country would be ended indefinitely.

According to people close to the matter, the draft specifies that migrants that engage in bigotry, so-called "honor killings" by males of their female relatives, and violence against women shouldn't be admitted.

It would cap the total number of refugees admitted in the 2017 fiscal year at 50,000.

It would also direct the Pentagon and U.S. State Department to plan "safe zones" inside Syria, which the previous administration rejected as unlikely to alleviate civilian suffering.

According to the State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, in the first three days of the Trump administration, the U.S. admitted 136 Syrian refugees.

During his campaign, Trump had adopted a hardline immigration policy, which would include a “complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" until the US government could properly vet people coming in.

In a statement, the National Iranian American Council said, “Donald Trump is making good on the most shameful and discriminatory promises he made on the campaign trail. He called for a Muslim ban and is now taking the first steps to implement one. This will not stand. The American people are better than this.”

Bringing this campaign promise to the fore, on Monday, Spicer said, “First and foremost, the President's been very, very clear that we need to direct agencies to focus on those who are in this country illegally and have a record - a criminal record or poses a threat to the American people. That's where the priorities going to be."

He could also issue orders to as potentially bar for 30 days the issuance of U.S. visas to people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — all Muslim-majority countries — until new visa procedures are developed.

"My understanding is he'll have some announcements tomorrow on immigration enforcement,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

“I would expect action on enforcement sooner than later.”

http://www.malaysiasun.com

Minister to travel to Malaysia for refugee selection mission

Tuesday, 24 January 2017, 5:28 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government

Hon Michael Woodhouse
Minister of Immigration

24 January 2017 Media Statement
Minister to travel to Malaysia for refugee selection mission

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse will today travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as part of an Immigration NZ (INZ) selection mission to interview refugee cases who have been submitted for resettlement in New Zealand by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

“In addition to the UNHCR’s own screening process, all refugee cases submitted for consideration undergo robust assessments as part of INZ’s decision-making process,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“This trip is an opportunity for me to observe those refugee interviews undertaken by INZ staff and gain an insight into the important work INZ staff do on refugee quota selection missions.

“Selection mission interviews focus on credibility, risk and settlement to ensure that the person is not a security risk or character of concern to New Zealand, and that settlement in New Zealand is the right option for them.

“This work is an integral part of ensuring that those refugees who are resettled in New Zealand do not pose a risk to the country and that they are well prepared to settle in the communities.”

Mr Woodhouse will also meet with UNHCR staff at their office in Kuala Lumpur, as well as visit a number of centres that provide education and health support to refugees.

Mr Woodhouse departs for Kuala Lumpur this evening and returns on Saturday 28 January.

http://www.scoop.co.nz

Let all refugees in Malaysia work, say human rights activists

PETALING JAYA: All refugees regardless of their country of origin should be accorded the opportunity to work in Malaysia, say human rights activists.



While welcoming the Government's decision to provide training in semi-skilled areas for Rohingya in country who are UNHCR cardholders, activists say there should not be discrimination against other refugees.

Tenaganita programme director Aegile Fernandez said when contacted that many of the refugees here had been in Malaysia for a long time and had no opportunity to be resettled.

"There is more attention on the Rohingya now because of the situation they are in but we shouldn't discriminate. Just extend it to all," she said, adding that such a support system was good in the long run for the refugees.

Fernandez added that the refugees could take back home the skills they learned if the situation permitted.

There is a spotlight on the Rohingya at the moment because of the situation in the Rakhine state in Myanmar where they are being persecuted.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have said on Thursday that the Government aims to provide training in semi-skilled areas for the Rohingya with UNHCR cards so that they can apply for Temporary Employment Passes (PLKS) which will then enable them to obtain employment.

Amnesty International Malaysia said that all refugees should be viewed as a growth sector in the country.

"This is certainly a step forward towards recognising the rights of refugees. We do hope, however, that all refugees, regardless of their country of origin, will be accorded the same opportunity," its director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said.

She said that with Dr Ahmad Zahid's announcement, the Government seemed to be officially acknowledging the status of refugees in the country.

She also reiterated Amnesty's call for Malaysia to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention immediately.

"The convention defines the term 'refugee', which is absent in Malaysian law, and outlines the rights of the displaced as well as the legal obligations of States to protect them.

"We ask that the Government demonstrate its commitment to aid the Rohingya and the wider refugee community in Malaysia by acceding to this international instrument," she said.

As of October of last year, there were some 150,669 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.

More than 135,000 of them are from Myanmar, comprising 54,856 Rohingya, 41,420 Chins, 10,928 Myanmar Muslims, 5,221 Rakhines and Arakanese, and other ethnicities from Myanmar.

The balance 15,000 are from other countries, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

http://www.thestar.com.my