U.S. Committee for Refugees World Refugee Survey 2002 - Thailand

 

Publisher	United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Publication Date	10 June 2002
Cite as	United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, U.S. Committee for Refugees World Refugee Survey 2002 - Thailand , 10 June 2002, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3d04c15410.html [accessed 14 June 2013]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Thailand hosted more than 277,000 refugees and asylum seekers at the end of 2001. Nearly all, more than 276,000, were from Burma. The Burmese included more than 125,000 mostly ethnic Karen and Karenni living in camps, 150,000 ethnic Shan living among the local population, 1,155 Burmese recognized as refugees by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and 175 Burmese with cases pending before UNHCR. Burmese continued to flee to Thailand in 2001, despite restrictive Thai policies.

The 741 non-Burmese refugees in Thailand included 364 persons whom UNHCR recognized under its mandate (including Cambodians, Sri Lankans, Chinese, Iraqis, and others); 34 Hmong from Laos remaining in Ban Napho camp; and 343 persons of various nationalities whose asylum claims were pending at year's end.

An estimated 250,000 Burmese and 13,000 Laotians were living in Thailand in refugee-like circumstances.

Thailand's record as a refugee-hosting country remains mixed. Although Thailand is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, it generally allows refugees to enter, but only if they are fleeing fighting. Sometimes the government permits asylum seekers fleeing human rights abuses and other forms of persecution to enter, pending a determination of their admissibility by a specially appointed board, but at other times it refuses them entrance. Thailand allows members of some Burmese ethnic minorities (e.g., the Karen and Karenni) to reside in Thai refugee camps, but denies ethnic Shan similar protection. In 1998, after many years of resistance, Thailand agreed to permit UNHCR a role with Burmese refugees at the border. Yet Thailand continues to regard UNHCR-recognized refugees as illegal immigrants.

In June, the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) conducted a site visit to Thailand to assess the situation of Burmese Shan asylum seekers. USCR found that Shan refugees continued to flee persecution, particularly forced relocation, at the hands of the Burmese authorities, but were given no protection in Thailand.

Burmese Refugees

According to the Burmese Border Consortium (BBC) – a group of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) – more than 125,000 ethnic minority Burmese lived in ten camps along the western border provinces of Thailand at the end of 2001. While most were "registered" camp residents, several thousand were awaiting interviews by the Thai government's Provincial Admissions Boards. Others had been rejected by the boards, but nevertheless continued to live in the camps. The majority were ethnic Karen and Karenni, while others were Mon, Pa-O, Shan, or other ethnicities.

At year's end, 1,155 Burmese who were individually recognized as refugees by UNHCR remained in Thailand. Of these, 891 lived in or near Bangkok, 213 lived in the Tham Hin border camp (having been relocated there in late December following the closure of the special camp at Maneeloy, where they had previously resided), and 51 lived in the border town of Mae Sot. Another 175 Burmese with cases pending before UNHCR lived in or near Bangkok.

Although Thailand formerly permitted Burmese refugees to live in Bangkok legally, in the late 1990s the government ordered the refugees to move to the border camps. Most refused to do so, preferring to remain in hiding in Bangkok.

During the year, 597 Burmese approached UNHCR for individual refugee status determinations. The refugee agency decided 749 Burmese cases (including some pending from the previous year), approving 480 and denying 269.

The BBC provides assistance to the Burmese in the border camps. Traditionally, the BBC has provided the refugees only basic assistance, enabling them to reach a standard of living comparable to that of local villagers while encouraging self-sufficiency and maximum involvement in the running of the camps through "refugee relief committees."

The BBC also assists some 500 Karen and 12,500 ethnic Mon Burmese who once lived in refugee camps in Thailand, but who now stay in camps on the Burmese side of the border. The Karen chose to move across the border in 1998, but the Mon were forced to move by the Thai authorities in 1996.

Until the early 1990s, there were no significant security concerns, although the Thai authorities did not permit UNHCR access to the camps. In the mid-1990s, however, Thailand improved its relations with Burma's ruling military government and toughened its policies toward Burmese refugees. Despite these improved relations, Burmese forces and ethnic insurgents allied with them began attacking the camps in Thailand.

Thailand began restricting refugees' movement in and out of the camps, curtailing their ability to work on nearby farms or to rent land and grow crops. Thailand insisted that some camps be moved away from the border for security reasons (the NGOs had deliberately located the camps near the border to encourage the refugees to maintain their identification with Burma). The government forced the ethnic Mon to move their camps to the Burmese side of the border.

The Thai authorities also began refusing entry to Burmese fleeing human rights abuse at the hands of the Burmese military, contending that only those fleeing fighting could enter and receive temporary refuge.

In February 2001, Thai authorities finally permitted entry to some 60 Burmese who had been waiting at Wedgi, on the Burma side of the Salween River, for three months. The Thai army and border police had prevented them from crossing the river into Thailand since November 2000. UNHCR and NGOs had advocated with the authorities to allow the group's entry.

In December, Thai authorities moved Johnny and Luther Htoo, 15-year-old twins who had formerly led the "God's Army" Karen rebel group, from a police station in Suan Phung District to the Ban Don Yang border camp. In 2000, the rebel group had seized a hospital in Thailand and held more than 200 persons hostage before Thai forces stormed the hospital and killed the gunmen.

When Thailand's prime minister visited Burma in June, the two countries once again discussed plans for a large-scale return of the Burmese refugees. The discussions included encouraging a greater role for international NGOs inside Burma, prompting concern among refugee advocates who feared that such a development could be used as an excuse for premature repatriation.

Admissions Procedures

The 1998 agreement granting UNHCR access to the camps also established Provincial Admissions Boards to determine which Burmese asylum seekers could remain in Thailand and live temporarily in the camps. The boards began operating in May 1999.

Newly arrived Burmese first report to district officials, who (with UNHCR as observers) make recommendations to the boards regarding the refugees' applications. The boards then determine whether the individuals meet the criteria for being permitted to stay. A positive determination does not confer any legal refugee status.

The Thai authorities initially said they would expand the admission standard from persons "fleeing fighting" to persons fleeing "the effects of civil war." However, at the end of 2001, Thailand maintained that new arrivals must be fleeing actual and confirmed fighting, even though Thai officials generally did not return persons screened out under this standard.

The admissions system has numerous shortfalls. Because the central government has not given the provinces directives on how to implement the system, each province has developed its own ad hoc approach to the process. Asylum seekers may face long delays waiting to meet with the district officials, since the boards meet infrequently and follow no set schedule. During the process, asylum seekers are supposed to stay in special reception centers. However, many settle directly in the refugee camps.

If a board determines that individuals are "admissible," the government sends them to a camp to be registered. If a board rejects an individual, the authorities are supposed to deport that person. According to UNHCR, during 2001 the boards applied the admissions criteria even more strictly than before, resulting in an increased number of rejections. UNHCR expressed concern over the rejections to the Thai authorities, and appealed to officials to reconsider many cases. Although the authorities did not reverse any decisions, they allowed most (but not all) of the rejected cases to stay in the camps and receive assistance.

The boards convened four times during 2001 and screened 8,319 asylum seekers. Of those, they approved 872 persons (10 percent) and rejected 7,447, according to UNHCR. At year's end, 6,529 claims were pending before the boards.

Forced Returns

According to UNHCR, the Thai army in Mae Hong Son Province forcibly repatriated two Burmese asylum seekers (including one Shan) during 2001. UNHCR, which did not have access to the individuals, made a formal protest to Thai provincial authorities.

On October 20, a group of 63 Karen entered Thailand at Tongphapoom District, Kanchanaburi Province. UNHCR interviewed each asylum seeker and confirmed that most had fled a Burmese relocation area because of forced labor and nearby fighting. The admissions board, however, rejected the asylum seekers' applications. UNHCR appealed for the group's admission at the local and national levels, as well as through UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. On November 6, Thai authorities moved the group to Sangkhlaburi District and returned them to Halochanee, a Mon cease-fire area of Burma. Some refugee advocates said this action was the clearest case of refoulement since the admissions boards were established. Thailand's National Human Rights Committee said it received complaints that the Karen had been tricked into signing repatriation forms.

The Thai army instructed the returnees to go to the Htee Wah Doh "camp," where Mon returnees and Karen internally displaced persons lived. Following the group's arrival, Burmese troops occupied the camp and began fighting a Mon splinter group, causing as many as 700 Htee Wah Doh residents and the 63 new returnees to flee to the border area. At year's end, Thai authorities had not allowed them to enter Thailand, despite appeals by UNHCR, several embassies, and NGOs.

In August, Thailand announced the imminent return of some 5,000 Karen from Ma La camp who had been screened out by the admissions boards, and publicly criticized UNHCR for opposing the repatriation. By year's end, however, the government had not returned the refugees.

Closure of Maneeloy

In 1999 and 2000, several assaults by Burmese dissidents on targets in Thailand, including the Burmese embassy, provoked angry responses from the Thai authorities, who further restricted the refugees' movements and warned them that if they left the camps they would be arrested and deported (which generally did not happen). The incidents also resulted in Thailand's decision to close Maneeloy, a camp for Burmese students and dissidents west of Bangkok, which had operated for nearly ten years. The government considered Maneeloy a threat to national security.

UNHCR appealed to the international community to resettle the camp's residents, most of whom UNHCR considered either refugees or "persons of concern."

During 2000, more than 1,200 Maneeloy residents left for resettlement in other countries, with 430 others awaiting departure. Another 560 refugees remained at Maneeloy with no prospect for a durable solution.

By the end of October 2001, some 470 Burmese were left in Maneeloy, including 213 UNHCR-recognized refugees. Thailand set December 15 as the camp's closing date and said most of the remaining residents would be moved to an undisclosed "safe" border location, while another 100 residents, whom the government classified as "illegal immigrants," would be deported.

Prior to the closing, Maneeloy residents said that they were at risk in Thailand and that the camp should remain open until they were all resettled. Some held demonstrations or went on hunger strikes. However, the Thai government and UNHCR agreed to move most of the Maneeloy residents to Tham Hin, a border camp primarily for Karen refugees, which has suffered from overcrowding and poor health conditions. Some advocates opposed the move, saying that bringing ethnic Burman political dissidents and other "urban refugees" into Tham Hin would create serious tensions, particularly with the Karen. In addition, they said, the conditions at Tham Hin would likely be unacceptable to the Maneeloy residents.

The government moved the deadline for the closure and relocation to December 27, to allow more preparation. The move went smoothly, with almost 400 Maneeloy residents transferring peacefully to Tham Hin. (Others had "disappeared" from Maneeloy prior to the transfer.) Questions remain as to how many will be eligible for resettlement. In addition, advocates note a continuing need for alternative protection solutions for the non border refugees, who may number in the thousands.

Shan Burmese

In 1996, Burmese authorities began a major forced-relocation campaign in Shan State. The program, and the human rights abuses associated with it, continued in 2001. Fighting between ethnic Shan insurgents and Burmese troops, as well as the Burmese regime's relocation of tens of thousands of ethnic Wa into traditional Shan areas, forced thousands of Shan to flee to Thailand.

Thailand regards Burmese Shan who seek refuge in Thailand to be illegal immigrants, and with few exceptions prohibits ethnic Shan from living in the camps.

This policy has forced the Shan, who are ethnically related to many northern Thais, to join the ranks of the hundreds of thousands of undocumented and therefore "illegal" Burmese migrants in Thailand. In recent years, including 2001, Thailand's increasingly vigilant effort to deport undocumented workers has included the Shan.

During USCR's site visit in June, Shan refugees said they lived in constant fear of deportation. Many rarely left the farms where they worked, and few sent their children to school. Some said that they wanted to be able to live in the camps with other ethnic minorities, while others said they preferred to live by their own means, but wanted Thailand to grant them legal status. USCR reported its findings at a press conference in Bangkok on June 20.

Most Shan settle in Thailand's northernmost provinces, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son. According to NGOs, there are two unofficial Shan refugee "camps" in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai. Shan State Army resistance troops protect both camps, which literally straddle the border. One of the camps, with more than 800 residents, is also very near to Burmese army troops and Thai military positions, resulting in a tense security situation.

No firm figures exist regarding the number of Shan who have entered Thailand seeking protection as refugees. A 2001 report by the Burmese Refugee Committee (BRC) estimated that some 300,000 Shan reside in Thailand, half of whom fled forced relocation campaigns in central Shan State. According to the report, an average of 1,000 Shan entered Thailand each month during 2001.

In the absence of any legal protection for Shan entering Thailand, and given the human rights abuse directed against the Shan minority in Burma, USCR counts as refugees the estimated 150,000 Shan in Thailand who have fled forced relocation.

Burmese in Refugee-Like Circumstances

An unknown number of other Burmese live and work in Thailand without documentation. Some may have left Burma simply to seek employment in Thailand, while others may have escaped human rights abuses. Some work as day laborers on farms, but most work in cities – in construction sites, factories, restaurants, and private homes. Estimates of their number vary greatly. USCR believes that no fewer than 250,000 Burmese are in this situation (although estimates of the "illegal immigrant" Burmese population in Thailand reach as high as 1 million).

Laotians

UNHCR reported that 34 refugees from Laos remained in Thailand at year's end. The group lived in Ban Napho camp in Nakhon Phanaom, in Thailand's northeast, where some 40,000 Laotian refugees formerly resided. In May, the Lao government said it would not consider taking back this last group until UNHCR did more to help reintegrate the 1,200 refugees returned under a 1999 tripartite agreement between Thailand, Laos, and UNHCR.

USCR considered approximately 13,000 Laotians, mostly Hmong living in a Buddhist monastery about 50 miles (80 km) outside Bangkok, to be in refugee-like circumstances. The group had fled from the UNHCR-run refugee camps for Laotians in the early and mid-1990s to avoid repatriation to Laos. UNHCR has no contact with the group and does not regard them as refugees. Thailand views them as economic migrants and periodically threatens to deport them, but Laos refuses to accept them

Students eat rice to help Burmese refugees

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RAISING FUNDS: Dressed in traditional ethnic Burmese Karen dress as part of Rice Day are St Joseph’s Primary School Alstonville pupils Molly Hipkins, 7 and Sarah Fivaz, 6, two of the school’s pupils raising money for displaced Burmese refugees. Patrick GorbunovsRICE has a big future in Australian lunchboxes, judging by the contented smiles on the faces of St Joseph's Primary School students in Alstonville yesterday.

 

In a fundraising day for Burmese refugees, victims of the decades-old civil war between ethnic minorities and the ruling military, the 230 students ate rice and wore traditional Burmese attire and face paint.

Burma, today known as Myanmar is emerging from 50 years of isolation with the extent of the human cost only now becoming apparent.

Since 1997, the military government has destroyed some 3500 villages in north east Burma alone, says Partners Relief and Development, a charity founded in Alstonville to help Burmese refugees and now active in seven countries.

Refugees such as the Karen people inhabit camps on the border with Thailand, while others roam the country in makeshift camps to evade capture.

Many children are orphans, escapees from village massacres.

St Joseph's Primary School brother and sister Daniel and Sophie Pereira visited the border camps with their parents last year.

Daniel and Sophie's grandparents are Burmese - they immigrated to Australia more than 40 years ago - and the children have extended family members in refugee camps.

"My dad's cousin is at a refugee camp right now," Sophie, 10, said.

"It was weird seeing people without proper homes ... they don't have doors or windows, just gaps."

Some refugees had lost limbs, victims of the thousands of land mines which still riddle the country.

"They didn't talk much but they were really good at singing," Daniel, 8, said.

"They sang in their language and we sang in ours."

Of the experience, the children agreed that gratitude was the number one lesson.

"Since I've been there I've been a lot more grateful."

Malaysia to expel Myanmar refugees

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia said Thursday it would work with Myanmar to repatriate thousands of their nationals following clashes in the community that left at least four dead and led to a security sweep

The two Southeast Asian nations insisted that violence -- beginning late May at a wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur -- linked to strife between majority Buddhists and minority Muslims in Myanmar was under control.

Malaysian authorities have suggested Buddhists came under attack from Muslim countrymen seeking vengeance over deadly sectarian strife back in Myanmar.

"It is a clash of Myanmars among themselves... The quarrel they have back home is brought to our country," Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar told reporters after meeting a delegation from Myanmar.

He said some 257,000 Myanmar nationals work in Muslim-majority Malaysia -- 144,000 of these illegally -- filling mostly lowly paid jobs in plantation, construction and other sectors shunned by locals.

Some 250 people remain in detention here after a security sweep last week following the deadly clashes, in addition to illegals held previously.

"We have 4,400 Myanmar detained in immigration detention centres now, and we have invited the Myanmar authorities, especially the embassy, to... bring them back," Wan Junaidi said.

He also called on the United Nations refugee agency to swiftly process those who say they are refugees and feel unsafe to return to Myanmar.

The agency has documented some 95,000 Myanmar refugees in Malaysia, which does not grant them any legal status but allows temporary stays.

Of them, 28,000 are Muslim-ethnic Rohingyas, who are denied citizenship in Myanmar. The United Nations has described them as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

Deadly sectarian strife pitting Buddhists against the Rohingyas has continued since last year in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine.

Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Zin Yaw said in separate comments to reporters that the attacks in Malaysia were believed to be "gang-related" and not necessarily religious.

"We ask help from the Malaysian government to protect our people working here. Some want to go back to Myanmar so (we will) make arrangements for them to go back quickly," he said.

Give hope to the refugee children of ULC (United Learning Centre)

Will you stand up for kids?

This is a very good question I HAVE EVER HEARD since I had been working for Burmese Refugees in Malaysia.
This can be handled by International Organization like United Nation, UNICEF , and International Human Rights Organization.
To me, I believe that there should be Diplomatic School for Every Child of the World which should be recognized by every Government of the Nation World, especially for Immigrants and Refugees so that every immigrant or refugee child can benefit their rights for education.

Every Child is our future leader of the world and they have opportunity to make changes in the world but we today have to make sure to build them up a good leader of the world. This is the responsibility of every one of us.

So, I say YES , I stand up for KIDS of the World today!

By Myanmar Refugees International

( Any comment should be emailed to myanmar.refugees@gmail.com )

Millions of refugee children have been forced to flee conflict and persecution. YOU can help us reach more children, and give them hope for a better future. There’s something you can do this June, for a needy child. Here in KDU University College, The Corporate Social Responsibility Class of April 2013 Bachelor of Communications has organized a very worthy fundraising campaign for ULC (United Learning Centre).

ULC is a group of humble individuals who are non political, non government related and just want to help the refugee children who are now seeking refuge in Malaysia; very often for reasons beyond their comprehension.
They run a Community-Based Refugee School (Learning Centre) for Myanmar refugee children in Malaysia. It’s a Learning Centre whereby these children are given the opportunity to be educated, fed a proper meal, study and play, and basically just be a kid in a safe place.
All of them are volunteers, work for free and they incur zero administrative cost. 100% of the donations go to the children where it helps to provide lunch, education, a safe place for them to study, play and prepare them to be accepted by a third country like the USA, Australia etc so they can have a brighter future

Now, together with KDU, they are organizing a worthy charity project at United Learning Centre (ULC) Myanmar Refugee Children Society. Dubbed as the ULC Fundraising campaign, the campaign will be geared towards securing continuous food supply and funds to support the United Learning Centre for the duration of three months. The campaign sees donation drives where our team will hit targeted areas to collect donations from the public to provide food supply, raise funds to secure the centre’s rental and utility bills as well as providing a water filter and dispenser system for the United Learning Centre’s shelter.
Main objectives:-
1) Acquire continuous food supply for the duration of three months
2) Raise funds to cover three month worth of the centre’s rental and utility bills
3) Provide a water filter and dispenser system for the centre
In order to make this worthy campaign a success, we would encourage everyone’s kind assistance and collaboration to provide used or new clothes, books, blankets, toys, stationary and school uniform for these Burmese children. Other than those mentioned, all other forms of assistance are very much welcome with open arms. All the donations collected will definitely put a big smile on the children’s faces. :D

You can do your part at the following collection drives:
Date: 3rd, 6th, 17th & 19th June 2013
Time: 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Venue: KDU University College (Damansara Jaya Campus)

OR
Date: 15th and 16th June 2013 (Saturday & Sunday)
Time: 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Venue: Opposite Subway, e@Curve

OR
Date: 22nd & 23rd June 2013 (Friday & Sunday)
Time: 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Venue: 1st Floor, Centrepoint Bandar Utama

OR
Date: 30th June 2013 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Venue: Fuyoh Art Bazaar, Publika



They say giving is always better than receiving, and the feeling you get from charity donations is well worth the effort, as even a small donation can greatly help them. Every little bit helps so let’s start spreading the love! :) For more information, kindly hop over here to know more

Myanmars living in fear of clashes

 

Here to earn a living: A group of Myanmar nationals can be seen near Pasar Borong Selayang.

 

PETALING JAYA: The clashes among two factions of Myanmar nationals here is causing anxiety among workers, said NGOs.

A source from an NGO here, which works closely with Myanmar migrant workers, said the situation was “quite severe”.

“These workers are even afraid of staying in their own community now due to the clashes.

“Businesses are likely to be affected if this continues,” said the source who declined to be named.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Malaysia spokesman Yante Ismail there were least 200 refugees and asylum-seekers among the 1,000 Myanmarese nationals picked up by the police on Wednesday.

All of them were later released.

“UNHCR has been in touch with refugee communities through community leaders and directly through meetings with various refugee groups to caution them against committing any violence or being involved in any acts of violence committed by other groups,” she said.

Yante said the agency had been involved in the operation with the police to ensure that no refugees were detained.

According to the UNHCR, As of end April 2013, there were 94,760 refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (Merhrom) president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani said many Myanmar nationalse here were becoming increasingly concerned about the tensions.

“Many are afraid to go out after their work hours, and I have noticed that police patrols are more frequent in areas in the city with a high number of Myanmar households,” he said.

Zafar Ahmad also called on Myanmar nationals in Malaysia not to condone clashes and violent acts here as it would affect diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“We should respect the laws and human rights principles of the country we are in, and therefore it is our responsibility to ensure the negative incidents in Myanmar do not spill over to the community here,” he said

Fake UNHCR cards found on detained Myanmars

KUALA LUMPUR: Following recent clashes between two factions of Myanmar nationals in the Klang Valley, Immigration Department has found 57 Myanmar nationals holding fake United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Malaysia cards.

Joint operations between City police and Immigration Department saw more than 1,000 foreign nationals picked up to check on their documentation,

It was determined that196 of them did not have proper documents while 57 held fake UNHCR cards.

“We have handed these individuals to the Immigration Department for further action,” said City public order and internal security chief Senior Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid yesterday.

Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department enforcement chief James Musa Singasaid a total of 244 Myanmar men and nine women are being detained at the Jalan Duta and Bukit Jalil detention centres to facilitate investigations.

He said this was the first time he had seen this many illegal immigrants holding the fake cards and are investigating who is the supplier of such cards to the illegal immigrants.

“During the operations, we also nabbed two Bangladeshis and a Nepalese man for not having proper documents during the operations,” he said.

It was reported yesterday that more than 1,000 Myanmar nationals had been picked up by a Kuala Lumpur police task force aimed at averting more clashes between feuding factions.

Seven clashes had been reported involving Myanmar nationals in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Selangor between May 30 and June 4.

Two Myanmar nationals were killed, while two others are in critical condition.

There had been clashes in Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslim ethnic Rohingya since last year.

Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said the next step was to open investigation papers on these individuals in accordance with the standard operation procedure.

“We are working on ascertaining their identities. Action will be taken on these individuals on a case by case basis,” he said.

Alias added that those who could not verify their identity and claimed to be Myanmar nationals would be referred to the Myanmar Embassy.

City deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Amar Singh said investigations into the deaths of the two Myanmar nationals killed were ongoing.

“A task force from CID is investigating the matter thoroughly, but no arrests have been made so far,” he said.

UNHCR Malaysia spokesperson Yante Ismail said they were aware of fake documents being circulated.

“This does not mean that they do not have a valid refugee claim, and if they have not yet been registered with us, UNHCR will still advocate on their behalf against arrest and deportation,” she said.

She added that there were least 200 refugees and asylum-seekers among the 1,000 Myanmarese nationals picked up by the police on Wednesday, who were later released.

Yante said UNHCR had been in touch with refugee communities through their leaders and directly through meetings with various refugee groups to caution them against committing any violence or being involved in any acts of violence committed by other groups

Malaysian police detain Myanmar nationals after unrest

Malaysian police have detained more than 900 Myanmar nationals in the capital Kuala Lumpur after a series of deadly clashes between Buddhist and Muslim groups.

Malaysian police have detained more than 900 Myanmar nationals in the capital Kuala Lumpur after a series of deadly clashes between Buddhist and Muslim groups.

Amar Singh, Kuala Lumpur's deputy police chief, says he doesn't want the violence to spread into Malaysia.

"The operation is to send a clear message to stop this nonsense," he said.

Police say four people have been killed and several others seriously injured in violence suspected to be linked to ongoing ethnic tensions in Myanmar.

U Maung Hla, head of the Burma Refugee Organisation in Malaysia, says violence between Myanmar refugee communities in Malaysia is not uncommon and is "sometimes due to religion".

Police have not provided details on the attacks but Malaysian media reports have suggested Buddhists came under attack from their Muslim countrymen seeking vengeance over violence in Myanmar.

The victims of religious tensions in Myanmar have mostly been Rohingya Muslims, but authorities in Malaysia say the victims in their country are Buddhists.

Violence against Rohingya Muslims, labelled by the United Nations as one of the world's most persecuted minorities, erupted in western Rakhine state last year and has spread across the country.

Thousands of the Muslim minority have escaped the violence and harsh living conditions by fleeing to Muslim-majority Malaysia.

The UNHCR says about 23,000 Rohingya Muslims are registered as refugees in Malaysia, but Malaysian authorities estimate more than 80,000 Myanmar nationals are living in the country

Malaysia detains Mynamar nationals after violence

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian police said Thursday they had detained more than 900 Myanmar nationals in a security sweep after at least two were killed last week in clashes believed to be linked to sectarian violence back home.

The two dead were likely Myanmar Buddhists killed during a spate of violent incidents in Kuala Lumpur since May 30, said Amar Singh Ishar Singh, the Malaysian capital’s deputy police chief.

He added that two other people were in critical condition and the attacks were “believed to be the result of violence in Myanmar.”

“The operation is to send a clear message to stop this nonsense and not bring the violence over to Malaysia,” he told AFP.

He gave no details on the attacks but Malaysian media reports — which said as many as four may have died — have suggested Buddhists came under attack from their Muslim countrymen seeking vengeance over violence back in Myanmar.

Deadly sectarian strife pitting Myanmar’s majority Buddhists against the Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority has flared since last year in the country’s western state of Rakhine.

Muslim-majority Malaysia says it is home to more than 80,000 Myanmar nationals, many of them Rohingya fleeing alleged persecution by Myanmar’s Buddhist authorities and, more recently, the Rakhine violence.

Amar said more than 250 of those detained in Malaysia were handed over to immigration authorities as they lacked proper documentation.

The rest were released and no formal arrests have yet been made as investigations continue, he said.

Myanmar on Tuesday called on Malaysia to take action against those responsible for the attacks and protect Myanmar citizens.

U Maung Hla, who heads the Burma Refugee Organization in Malaysia, said violence between exiled Myanmar communities here was not uncommon and was “sometimes due to religion.”

 

Rohinyas are originally from Bangladesh, immigrated to urma illegally, paid off  Burmese Immigration to enter the Country illegally but not recognized by Government like Burmese Refugees In Malaysia.

 Malaysia does not grant Rohingyas refugee status but has turned a blind eye to the steady arrivals.

In April, Human Rights Watch accused Myanmar of “a campaign of ethnic cleansing” against Rohingya, citing evidence of mass graves and forced displacement affecting tens of thousands. Myanmar denies the charge.

Meanwhile, back in Myanmar, at least three women from Myanmar’s Rohingya minority were shot dead this week in a clash with security officials over new housing arrangements, police and activists said.  A police officer ,     

 

in Mrauk-U township in western Rakhine state said three women died in the clash Tuesday in Parein village. The women and others were defying efforts to relocate them from the housing in which they have been living since their original homes were burned by Buddhists in a wave of sectarian clashes last year.

The officer from the Special Branch political police, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to release information, said Wednesday that six villagers were injured in the clash.

A website covering Rohingya news, Rohingya Blogger, said four women were shot dead and five other villagers wounded in the confrontation, which broke out when workers from another township came to unload wood to build new dwellings. It said that when Parein villagers sought to stop the unloading, they began quarreling with police, who opened fire on them.
The police officer said some in the Rohingya crowd carried knives, sticks and slingshots. — Agencies

Malaysia steps up law enforcement amid clashes in Myanmar community

Malaysia has stepped up law enforcement to prevent ethnic clashes within the Myanmar community from spreading. Sectarian violence in the community left four people dead in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian police arrested over a thousand Myanmar nationals in the past week.

 

MALAYSIA: Malaysia has stepped up law enforcement to prevent ethnic clashes within the Myanmar community from spreading.

Sectarian violence in the community left four people dead in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian police arrested over a thousand Myanmar nationals in the past week.

32-year-old Mohd Rafik fled Myanmar's Rakhine state three months ago, after he was allegedly attacked by members of the so-called 969 radical group.

Now being treated in Kuala Lumpur for severe slash wounds, Mr Rafik’s hope is to start his life anew in Malaysia.

He said: "I hope to bring my family over one day, unless the situation improves in Myanmar.”

But now, it seems the violence that Mr Rafik was trying to escape has followed him to Malaysia and clashes over the last two weeks have left four people dead.

Malaysia is home to one the largest Rohingya communities in the region. Although the UNHCR said there are 23,000 registered Rohingya refugees in the country, human rights groups said the unregistered ones are twice as many.

Some have lived and worked in Malaysia for ages and they too condemned the recent spate of violent clashes. They deny that the violence was started by Rohingya seeking revenge against Myanmar nationals working in the country.

Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman, deputy president of Rohingya Society of Malaysia, said: "Do you think that we dare and are bold enough to attack them in a country of others? We came here to get shelter and to have a safer place for Rohingya to stay. Rohingya have never fought, even though Rohingya have lost their family members. A lot of relatives have been killed by the Myanmar (nationals), killed by the Rakhine people.”

There are close to half a million Myanmar nationals in Malaysia, working mostly in factories, restaurants and other service industries.

Leaders of Myanmar's ethnic minorities are calling for a peace dialogue to condemn the deadly clashes that are threatening to jeopardise their status in their host country, Malaysia.

Mr Ghani said: "Malaysians are kind enough towards refugees. This way, our refugees need to understand not to bring this problem from Myanmar to here."

Malaysian Home Minister Zahid Hamidi has warned of tougher action against troublemakers.

He has asked the UNHCR to work closely with enforcement agencies to contain the situation.

He said: "The ethnic cleansing efforts are not part of Malaysia’s culture. We want the UNHCR to cooperate more with the police and immigration authorities in order to prevent recurrences, if indeed they want to protect the Myanmar refugees. They should work with the authorities so that Malaysia is not seen as a country that's lax in enforcement."

The UNHCR has said it is still assessing the situation, even as thousands of asylum seekers, reportedly from Myanmar, are still being held in detention centres across the country

UNHCR: No refugees involved in recent cases of Myanmar group violence

PETALING JAYA: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Malaysia said they have no evidence that their document-holders have been involved in the recent cases of violence between Myanmarese ethnic groups in Klang Valley.

“All refugees and asylum-seekers are expected to respect the national laws of the countries in which they seek asylum,” said UNHCR spokesperson Yante Ismail.

Yante said it would expect refugees or asylum-seekers who allegedly committed crimes in Malaysia to undergo due process under law, and not be deported to a country where their lives or freedom may be at risk.

Seven clashes were reported involving Myanmar nationals in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Selangor between May 30 and June 4.

Two Myanmar nationals were killed while two others are in critical condition.

The violence is linked to recent clashes in Myanmar between Buddhists and ethnic Muslim Rohingyas in the Rakhine state.

Yante added that the authorities have released those holding UNHCR documents whose status was verified by their staff.

Several refugees met outside the UNHCR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur were aware of the violence, although they claimed that they had not been affected.

One refugee, who wanted to be known as Shu, said life continued as normal although he had heard of the violence.

"I have done nothing wrong and have no reason to be afraid,” he said.

Another refugee, Robert from the Chin state, urged all parties to stay calm.

“People don't know the facts there but are bringing the problem over here. It also causes problems for Malaysians.

“How can we attain peace if you don't talk to one another,” said the 23-year-old restaurant worker.

As of April this year, there were 94,760 refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar registered with UNHCR.

Do not neglect Myanmar refugee problem

By LIM MUN FAH
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE
Sin Chew Daily

 

Several clashes involving Myanmar nationals had took place in Kuala Lumpur over the past few days. Two Myanmar nationals were killed and it was reported that the clashes were extremely brutal.

More shockingly, the motive behind these clashes is not simple and it is believed to be linked to the recent riots in Myanmar.

Myanmar refugees have become an international concern in recent years. Due to the clashes between the government troops and ethnic armed groups, the continuous political turmoil and war have led to hardship, causing its people to flee. According to the statistics released by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2011, Myanmar was the fifth country with the most refugees under UNHCR responsibility across the globe. There are about 420,000 refugees around the world. Some 100,000 of them were taken in by Thailand while the remaining others have fled to India, Malaysia, Bangladesh and other countries.

It is known that as many as 90,000 Myanmar refugees have registered in Malaysia. The Amnesty International, however, estimated that the actual number might be twice that number. In addition to refugees, there are also a number of legal Myanmar workers in Malaysia. According to a report of the Kuala Lumpur-based Burma Workers' Rights Protection Committee (BWRPC), about 500,000 legal and illegal Myanmar nationals are currently working in Malaysia. If the figure is correct, the problem of Myanmar immigrants has then reached the level requiring the government to seriously address and seek solutions for it.

In fact, many Myanmar refugee villages or communities have emerged nationwide and since their identities are not recognised, they are living like the pariahs. Without a legal working permit, they can only work as illegal cheap labours earning meager wages to support their families. Meanwhile, their children just wander around all day with little chance of schooling.

Many people might not know that although we are accustomed to call Myanmar immigrants refugees, our government actually does not recognise their refugee status as Malaysia is not a signatory of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It means that the refugees here are not granted any protections. They might be arrested, detained or deported at any time. Therefore, to avoid being arrested, the refugees are sometimes forced to bribe law enforcement officers in various ways, including money and sex.

Myanmar refugees are generally kind and they usually get along with the locals without much problems. They also seldom cause troubles. Incidents like the recent fatal clashes could rarely be found in the past. However, Myanmar refugees are generally facing poverty, exploitation, education and health problems. Our major worry is, it might eventually evolve into social problems in the long run.

The Sulu terrorist incursion in Sabah is a lesson learned. In the face of the increasing number of Myanmar refugees, the government must have a new perspective and try to properly settle them down, or deport them to a third country which is willing to accept them. Otherwise, it would be an time bomb with unpredictable consequences.

Myanmese Buddhists fear violence in Malaysia

Amy Chew in Kuala Lumpur 

 

 

Myanmese Buddhists in Malaysia have been living in fear for more than a year as they believe Muslim Rohingya are taking revenge on them for sectarian killings in their home country.
In the past week, two Buddhist Myanmese were killed and another two were critically injured in seven separate clashes in and around Kuala Lumpur.
"We are very worried. It's not safe. Something can happen at any time," said Maung Hla, chairman of the Burma Refugee Organisation in Malaysia.
"This trouble in Malaysia is because of trouble in Myanmar. You can say Rohingya are taking revenge here in Malaysia," Maung Hla added.
Malaysia is host to 94,760 Myanmese refugees, of whom 28,120 are Rohingya, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
One of the fatal attacks took place in Ampang, a district in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
"The victim was attacked by 10 men carrying machetes. He was sleeping in a car. Two others managed to run away," said a Myanmese community leader who declined to be named over fear for his safety.
The violence is believed to have compelled many Myanmese migrant workers to leave the country. "I can tell you many Myanmese workers are leaving Malaysia. Workers in Myanmar who got visas to come here to work are cancelling them because of the news of this violence," said the leader.
Violence among the Myanmese community started last year but drew little attention.
Anti-Rohingya violence flared in Rakhine state, western Myanmar a year ago, when 200 people were killed, and has since continued on and off.
In Malaysia, Muslim Myanmese have been looking out for their non-Muslim countrymen. "I have a friend who is driven to work every day by his Muslim Myanmese friend who is concerned about his safety," said the community leader.
A Rohingya refugee leader in Malaysia denied allegations his community was behind the recent violence. "How can we be behind the attacks? We are a minority here," said Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman. "We don't know who attacked whom. We want peace."

Dept probes how Myanmar nationals got fake UNHCR cards

By Nicholas Cheng
The Star/Asia News Network
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013       

KUALA LUMPUR - The Immigration Department is investigating how 307 people, who were among 1,054 Myanmar nationals rounded up here last week, had fake United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Malaysia cards and documents.

Its Kuala Lumpur enforcement chief James Musa Singa said officers were interviewing them to ascer­­tain the source of the forged documents.

"We want to know who are involved. Investigations are still in the early stages, I can't say more.

"The findings will be forwarded to the Attorney-General's Chambers in two weeks," he said, adding that the matter would come under the Criminal Procedure Code.

On Friday, 1,000 Myanmar nationals were picked up by a police task force following clashes between Myanmar Muslims and their Buddhist counterparts.

It was found that 196 of them did not have proper documents while 57 held fake UNHCR Malaysia cards.

On Saturday, police detained another 54 Myanmar nationals in Cheras, Brickfields and Sentul.

UNHCR spokesman Yante Ismail said it was cooperating with the police in its investigations but clarified that some of those who carried fake documents could still have a valid refugee claim.

"If they are in need of international protection but have not registered with us, UNHCR will still advocate on their behalf against arrest and deportation for immigration offences until their refugee claims can be verified," she said.

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Amar Singh said the conflict between the ethnic groups had ended after talks between their leaders. "Things are quiet for now after we warned them to stop fighting. We are closely monitoring the situation," he added.

Rohingya Society of Malaysia deputy president Abdul Ghani Rahman confirmed that the conflict had eased, urging the opposing group, which he called the "969" movement, to respect the rule of law.

"We have no problem with them and we have no heart to fight. I hope they can see this problem and heed the police advice to abide by the law," he said.

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Hu­­man Rights Organisation Malaysia president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani urged the authorities to take further steps to ensure the safety of Myanmar nationals in the country.

Seven clashes were reported involving Myanmar nationals in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Selangor between May 30 and June 4.

Myanmar nationals lie low after clashes

 

Holed up: A Myanmar family having lunch at their shelter near the Selayang wholesale market. The recent clashes have forced Myanmar nationals to stay away from the streets. — AZMAN GHANI / The Star

 

PETALING JAYA: A number of Myanmar nationals are believed to be hiding following sporadic clashes at the Selayang wholesale market.

Police believe the clashes were a spillover from the religious violence in their home country, causing anxiety among those here.

“In Selayang, there have been groups carrying the 969 symbol on their vans and vehicles. This has caused alarm within the Myanmar community in the area,” said Rohingya Society in Malaysia president Dr Abdul Hamid Musa Ali.

The movement known as 969 numerals which espouse Buddhist beliefs has been blamed for the troubles in Myanmar. Reports have stated that it was led by ultra-nationalist Buddhists.

The Rohingya Society in Malaysia, however, has not received any complaint from employers about their Myanmar staff not turning up for work.

Dr Abdul Hamid noted that the situation had been calm here since the intervention by the Immigration Department and police.

Selayang MP William Leong said the attacks here were not linked to any armed or organised groups.

“I have been requested by the families and representatives of the victims to call the police to investigate and charge those responsible for murder,” he said.

Operations to thwart violence among Myanmar nationals in the city have resulted in 292 foreigners being detained for having non-valid documents, with 63 holding fake UNHCR Malaysia cards.

Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department enforcement chief James Musa Singa said the operations, which was conducted with the police, were carried out from June 5 to 8 in Cheras, Dang Wangi, Brickfields and Sentul.

“Those detained will be held for two weeks. We are particularly concerned with the discovery of the fake UNHCR cards. We will probe deeper to uncover the syndicate behind it,” he said.

The department, he said, would also seek the advice of the Attorney-General's Chambers.

It was reported that about 1,000 Myanmar nationals were picked up by a Kuala Lumpur police task force to avert more clashes between feuding factions.

Clashes between Myanmar nationals could spell trouble for Malaysia

 

Busy bees: Myanmar nationals doing business near the Selayang wholesale market.

 

FOR the past two weeks, Myanmar national Muhammad Sadek, 41, has not stepped out of his house, for fear of losing his life.

However, on Monday, the Rohing-ya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC) programme co-ordinator took a chance and went back to work at a Myanmarese restaurant near Kotaraya here.

When he arrived there, he was shocked to be confronted and chased by two other Myanmar nationals who were once his friends. He believes their relationship had been affected because he is Muslim and they are Buddhists and this had provoked the attack.

Just weeks ago, Sadek said he did not have any known enemies here.

“They were once my friends, but not anymore. We used to work together on political issues but now we are being divided because we follow different religions,” said Sadek, who is back to staying put at home.

Seven clashes were reported involving Myanmar nationals in the Klang Valley between May 30 and June 4. Two people have died and two others are reported to be in a critical condition.

The police now have to hunt down the murderers and bring them to justice immediately.

But what is really going on among Myanmar nationals in Malaysia?

Are we sitting on an explosive powder keg or are these just isolated incidents that are being blown out of proportion?

Malaysia has to take such incidents seriously because we could be caught in the crossfire.

Mindful that sectarian violence could touch a nerve with the local community, the police have been quick to clamp down on further incidents by rounding up 1,000 Myanmar nationals.

There are an estimated 400,000 Myanmar nationals in the country legal, illegal and refugees. Many of them work in restaurants and at construction sites.

Large scale clashes between them could spell a lot of trouble for Malaysia.

There could even be Malaysians who could be mistaken for Myanmar nationals and attacked.

The violence has been linked to recent clashes in Myanmar between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine.

Thousands of people, mostly Rohingyas, have been displaced by the clashes, when entire Muslim neighbourhoods were reportedly razed.

The clashes first started in June last year, with further violent outbreaks occurring last October and in March this year.

The alleged conflicts in Malaysia are believed to have started at the Selayang wholesale market, which is known to have many Myanmar nationals. There have been reports of fights among them, although not necessarily linked to religion.

With their large population at the market, whatever they do is bound to affect local workers and residents, who are also eking out a living.

Since its independence from Britain in 1947, the country has frequently seen sectarian clashes between the majority and minority groups such as the Karen, Shan and Chin.

Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country, but about 5% or about three million of its 60 million people are Muslims.

“The Myanmar government is committing genocide against the Rohingyas,” claimed Sadek.

His counterpart Tun Tun of the Burma Campaign Malaysia said Myanmar nationals generally wanted peace and they should work together to ensure tensions in their home country are not allowed to infringe on the harmony they have found in the safe haven of Malaysia.

“We are happy and lovely people. We have been living and working peacefully together all this while,” he said.

Ethnic-based clashes in Myanmar spill over to streets of Kuala Lumpur

PETALING JAYA: For the past two weeks, Myanmar national Muhammad Sadek, 41, has not stepped out of his house for fear of losing his life.

However, on Monday, the Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC) program co-ordinator took a chance and went back to work at a Myanmarese restaurant near Kotaraya.

However, when he arrived there, he was pursued by two people who appeared to want to do him harm.

These were people whom he knew personally, and both happened to be Buddhists.

"They were once my friends, but not anymore. We used to work on political issues together but the issue has now gone back to religion," said Safiq, who is staying put at home for the time being.

Several violent clashes between Buddhist and Muslim Myanmar nationals have occurred in the Klang Valley, resulting in the death of two and another two in critical condition.

Mohd Sadek claims he was targeted because of his work with the Muslim Rohingya community, considered by the United Nations to be one of the world's most-persecuted minorities.

However, mindful that sectarian violence could touch a nerve with local communities, police have been quick to clamp down on any incidents here.

Last Friday, Malaysian police detained more than 1,000 Myanmarese workers in Sentul, Cheras, Brickfields and Dang Wangi.

The clashes in Malaysia reportedly started in Selayang before spreading to other parts of the Klang Valley.

The violence has been linked to recent clashes in Myanmar between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the Western state of Rakhine.

Thousands of people, mostly Rohingyas, have been displaced by the clashes, when entire Muslim neighbourhoods were reportedly razed.

The clashes first started in June last year, and tensions were re-ignited again last October and more clashes took place in March this year.

"The Myanmar government is committing genocide against the Rohingya," claimed Sadek.

There have also been a number of sectarian clashes between the Burmese majority and other minority groups such as the Karen, Shan and Chin.

Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country, but approximately five percent of its 60 million inhabits (about three million) are Muslims.

Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen said that Malaysians are concerned with this issue because they are many Myanmar nationals living here, especially in Selayang.

He added that based on the testimony of the victims, these attacks were not committed by armed and organised groups.

"If they start chopping one another, our locals could also be wrongly targeted," he said, adding that the Myanmar nationals deserved protection.

There are an estimated 400,000 Myanmar nationals in the country those with refugee status or working here legally or illegally. Most are working in the restaurant and construction sectors.

As of May this year, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has registered some 28,120 Rohingya asylum-seekers and refugees in Malaysia.

Malaysia is a favoured destination for the Rohingya, whom the Myanmar government classifies as Bangladeshi immigrants and have been denied citizenship of the country.

Sadek pinned the blame on the infamous 969 movement in Myanmar, a radical right-leaning Buddhist organisation.

"We are here on humanitarian grounds and don't want to trouble Malaysians," he said.

An official from an NGO working with refugees says there has not been much information regarding violence in Malaysia, but said some attacks have been indiscriminate, targeting anyone from Myanmar.

He gave the example of a Christian refugee from Myanmar who suffered a broken hand and injuries to his eye and face.

President of the Burma Campaign Malaysia, Tun Tun looks disparagingly on the recent clashes here.

"We have been living and working peacefully together all this while. We are foreigners and must follow Malaysian law," he said.

He claims that the Myanmar government is trying to create trouble ahead of the upcoming 2015 elections.

In the 2012 Burmese by-elections, the main opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD), won 43 out of 44 seats it contested from a total of 46 seats.

Tun Tun explained that the government wanted to put democracy icon and NLD general secretary Aung San Syu Kyi in a difficult situation.

"Aung San Syu Kyi can't speak out for the Rohingyas because the Buddhist majority might not support her then," he said.

Tun Tun claims that many Myanmar workers in Malaysia have posted anti- Muslim messages on social networking sites

Malaysia: repatriate Myanmar nationals

Malaysia said Thursday it would work with Myanmar to repatriate thousands of their nationals following clashes in the community that left at least four dead and led to a security sweep.

Families wait to be processed at the UNHCR refugee centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 29, 2013. The U.N. refugee agency estimates 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers remain unregistered in Malaysia. Malaysia said Thursday it would work with Myanmar to repatriate thousands of their nationals following clashes in the community that left at least four dead. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

The two Southeast Asian nations insisted that violence - beginning late May at a wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur, linked to strife between majority Buddhists and minority Muslims in Myanmar - was under control.

Malaysian authorities have suggested Buddhists came under attack from Muslim countrymen seeking vengeance over deadly sectarian strife back in Myanmar.

"It is a clash of Myanmars among themselves... The quarrel they have back home is brought to our country," Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar told reporters after meeting a delegation from Myanmar.

He said some 257,000 Myanmar nationals work in Muslim-majority Malaysia - 144,000 of these illegally - filling mostly lowly paid jobs in plantation, construction and other sectors shunned by locals.

Some 250 people were detained after a security sweep last week following the Kuala Lumpur clashes, in addition to several thousand illegal immigrants held previously.

"We have 4,400 Myanmar detained in immigration detention centres now, and we have invited the Myanmar authorities, especially the embassy, to... bring them back," Wan Junaidi said.

Wan Junaidi also called on the United Nations refugee agency to swiftly process those who say they are refugees and feel unsafe to return to Myanmar.

The agency has documented some 95,000 Myanmar refugees in Malaysia, which does not grant them any legal status but allows temporary stays.

Of them, 28,000 are Muslim-ethnic Rohingyas, who are denied citizenship in Myanmar. The United Nations has described them as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

Deadly sectarian strife pitting Buddhists against the Rohingyas has continued since last year in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine.

Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Zin Yaw said in separate comments to reporters that the attacks in Malaysia were believed to be "gang-related" and not necessarily religious.

"We ask help from the Malaysian government to protect our people working here. Some want to go back to Myanmar so (we will) make arrangements for them to go back quickly," he said.

UNHCR Told To Speed Up Myanmarese Resettlement Process To Third Country

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia wants the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to speed up the process of resettling Myanmarese holding UNHCR cards to third countries.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Thursday that Malaysia had all the while allowed the Myanmarese UNHCR card holders to remain in this country on companionate grounds pending the United Nations commission's efforts on resettlement.

"However, Malaysia would like to urge UNHCR to seriously look into expediting the resettlement process of Myanmar UNHCR card holders to third countries," he said in a statement.

His statement came in the wake of the series of violent incidents involving Myanmarese here over the last two weeks which had led to two deaths so far.

Wan Junaidi said the Home Ministry and the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had agreed to work together to overcome the problem, when the matter was discussed at his meeting with Myanmar's deputy foreign minister, U Zin Yaw and Labour, Employment and Social Security deputy minister, Daw Win Maw Tun at the former's office in Putrajaya.

"The Embassy of Myanmar will advise Myanmar nationals in Malaysia to respect and abide by the domestic laws and regulations," he said, adding that the Myanmar delegation were on a four-day visit to the country since Tuesday.

He said the Royal Malaysia Police would monitor the locations where groups of Myanmarese were known to be staying or working, in order to prevent undersirable incidents from reoccurring.

Since early this month, several fights had been reported at the Selayang Wholesale market and Kampung Baru Ampang among the Myanmarese here due to the Muslim-Buddhist religious conflict that has occurred in their homeland, with three Myanmar men reported killed in the fights.

Last week, Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh Ishar Singh warned Myanmar nationals residing in Malaysia not to create tension due to their political affiliation in their country of origin in order not to jeopardise national security here.

In reaction to the incidents, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has slashed down the price of of a one-way ticket from here to Myanmar by half to RM210 per person to Myanmarese who want to return home.

-- BERNAMA  

Japan’s policies helped Myanmar refugees to rebuild their lives

Myo Myint Swe was a 22 year old pro-democracy activist when he decided to leave Myanmar because life was getting too dangerous for people like him. A friend suggested he flee to Japan, while most of his friends went to the US and Canada. Even if the first few years in Tokyo were extremely difficult and challenging, he is now on his way back to his country 22 years later, armed with a graduate degree from the University of Tokyo, a wife and daughter and a desire to build a society that allows people to “think freely and live peacefully.”

His story is just one of hundreds of Burmese refugees who sought asylum in Japan to escape a military regime. People from Myanmar constituted a major part of the country’s administration policies for refugees. The Justice Ministry’s Immigration Bureau showed that 14,299 foreigners applied for refugee status between 1982 and 2012, with the Burmese accounting for 4,583 or 1/3 of them. Between 2003 and 2011, Myanmar was the top-ranked country in terms of applicants. Even in 2012, when their government was already under democratic rule, there were still 368 applicants. Since 1982, a total of 616 foreigners have successfully obtained recognition as refugees and more than half of them are Burmese.

But compared to other industrialized countries in North America and Europe, Japan’s numbers are pretty low. In 2011, the US had 10,000 recognized refugees while Canada had around 6,000. However, Japan is trying to make up for the numbers by helping more of the Burmese refugees with their “third-country resettlement” program, focusing on the minority group Karen, who are being persecuted by the Muslims in Myanmar. Most of the Karen refugees are living in camps in Thailand, but now 45 have already come to Japan and availed of the program. An official from the Japan Association for Refugees said that despite the democratization of Myanmar, it will still be difficult for most of them to return to their country.

Myo Myint Swe, when he has settled back in Myanmar, wants to become a bridge between his home country and his “second homeland”. He wants to harness the power of former refugees to affect change in their country. One of the most important things he learned from his sojourn in Japan is, “Even if the door is closed, you should make utmost efforts where you are living. You should make preparations for the future. That means that you should have hope.”

Refugee Repatriation Talks Held in Karen State Capital

A Karen refugee with her child in Mae La Oon refugee camp in Thailand. (Photo: Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy)

 

CHIANG MAI, Thailand—The UN refugee agency has met with high-ranking Burmese officials in the Karen State capital to discuss plans of repatriating more than 140,000 Burmese refugees over the border in Thailand.

The discussions in Pa-an focused on the Burmese government’s desire to repatriate the refugees and its plan to provide shelters for them in Mon State and Karen State, Thai news agency Nation Channel reported on Monday.

Most of the Burmese refugees in Thailand are ethnic Karen people who fled their homes in southeast Burma in the early 1980s amid fighting between Karen rebels and the government’s army. They have been living in nine refugee camps on the Thai border since then.

Refugees from three of the nine camps will be targeted for repatriation first, according to the report, which said the three camps were in Tak Province. It added that Burma planned to amend education laws to allow Burmese refugees who studied in Thailand to return with an approved equivalent high school certificate.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, Vivian Tan, the spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Asia, said Burmese and Thai authorities were trying to ensure refugees were informed about the situation in Burma so they could make independent, informed decisions about whether to return.

The UNHCR has not promoted the repatriation program, she added.

Tan said UNHCR officials told Burmese authorities that if the situation in Burma became safe enough for repatriation, authorities would need to agree on a basic principle of “voluntary return.”

“There will be no pressure to close down the camp for now,” she said. “On the Myanmar side, I think it is a good sign that the authorities say they welcome the refugees to return home. We stress that any return that happens must be voluntarily.”

Tan said Burmese authorities pledged to give returning refugees the right to select where in Burma they would live.

Although there has been no official public announcement of repatriation efforts, some temporary shelters have been built for returning refugees in Karen State’s Hlaing Bwe Township, according to local residents.

In a meeting with the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) in Pa-an on April 26, Karen State’s chief minister, Zaw Min, said he wanted some refugees—about 30 households—to return to the temporary shelters in Karen State.

Refugees in Thailand say they have seen other signs of impending repatriation. At Mae La camp in Tak Province, the biggest camp on the Thai border, refugees say Mae Fah Luang Foundation, a Thai organization, has distributed forms that require refugees to select from three options: move elsewhere in Thailand, return to Burma, or resettle in a third country. Mae Fah Luang Foundation, based in Chiang Mai Province, is under the royal Thai patronage.