3 years old girl celebrated her birth day in Malaysia detention center without her beloved mother and family

VOCR
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 28, 2009

A 3 years old refugee girl who fled from Burma along with her mother and two siblings was arrested excluding her family members and detained at a detention center in Malaysia. The girl’s name is Sui Tin Sung (DOB: 2nd March 2006)and is daughter of Ms. Ngun Siang Doi (354-07C01436)and Mr. Leng Cung.

It was learned that the girl and her family left Burma because of on going military persecution they faced in their own country. The mother Ms. Ngun Siang Doi brought her three children and came to Malaysia for the safety of their life. The mother revealed that when they arrived to Thailand and Malaysia border, the transporter separated the family member due to lack of space on their van. Her youngest daughter Sui Tin Sung was with a woman who also left Burma with them as the mother was busy enough to take care of other two kids, one girl and one boy.

It was believed that the girl was arrested with other passengers on February 2, 2009 at night time while entering into Malaysia from Thailand.The young girl has been detained bearing prison body number of 1062 for almost two months in a detention center known as “Cempoh” in Malaysia. When she was arrested, the mother said that, she was suffering from rhinitis and scabies. It was also heard that the girl’s health condition was worse in the detention center. The relatives and community leaders try to meet the girl but missed for two times.

The girl’s father, Leng Cung had been resettled to USA a year a go. The mother and her two siblings have been registered by UNHCR.Many refugee family members from Burma had risked their lives in order to have reunification with their family members who are still in their first country of asylum and already in third countries. Numbers of refugee family including children and women have been waiting for their time for registration under the protection of UNHCR office in Malaysia.

Burma military has banned more websites including Gmail

VOCR
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 27, 2009

March 26 was revolution day for Burma but current military dictators have changed it to Aram forced Day that they pronounce in Burmese Tatmataw Neh. Every year, it is well known the security is more stringent. Thousands of Internet users in Burma have been facing problems to check their emails since ten days ago.

Win Win, an internet user in Yangon said, “I can not access into my Gmail any more since about ten days a go. I went to many different shops in different locations in Yangon but all shops have the same problems. In some place we can use Gtlak by using proxy address but can not access into Gmail.” It was learned that for internet users in Burma, Yahoo mail is not known. Almost all internet users have been using Gmail (google mail). 

The regimes fully control the IP provider services in Burma where they use special censorin 400, 000 soldiers marching on arm forced day March 27-09 Burma military regimes had setup public internet access service since 2003 but they have been banning all free emails and webmail services, anti-dictatorship websitesand blogs, international news and even youtube.

It is estimated that the number of internet users in Burma has increases to 2.0% of the country’s population within 6 years.The military authorities have arrested several people including political activists and students accusing them of committing offense against their “electronic law” that include accessing into banned websites.

By Salai Eagle

Malaysian Ambassador to Canada visited Chin refugee school

Seihnam

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

March 22, 2009

A weekly periodical journal called Seihnam has reported on Sunday about the visit of Dato’ Dennis J. Ignatius and his spouse to a refugee school established and ran by Chin Student Organization (CSO-Imbi) in Malaysia.

As they are devoted Christians, they encouraged the students with the words of God and also prayed for them.Mr. and Mrs. Dennis expressed his concern upon the refugee children and the school.

Dato’ Dennis J. Ignatius

CSO leaders expressed their gratitude to their visit and also told them that refugee children in Malaysia need resettlement to the third countries as soon as possible so that they would be able to have their right to study basic education that they inevitable need for their life.

CSO leaders told the honorable couple with facts and proves that as school for refugee children in Malaysia including CSO has limited periods and levels of studies, children who finish their level of studies in refugee school but still wondering for resettlement to the third countries have being in a difficult situation to continue their studies.

Seihnam also reported that Mrs. Dato’ Dennis also used to be a school teacher in Malaysia for many years. Mr.Dato’ Dennis J Ignatius is also known by his authorship and inspirational Christian spiritual book called “FIRE

BEGETS FIRE” that he wrote.

2000 copies of Poem booklet written by a refugee from Burma distributed in Malaysia

VOCR

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

March 22, 2009

A combination of poems written by Salai Za Thawng Lian, a refugee from Burma who belongs to Chin ethnic minority has been published in Malaysia. The book is entitled as “Embrace me” and poems are decorated with incredible drawings of Ab Latif Maulan a Malaysian artist.

The poet Salai Za Thawng Lian

Mr. Rainer Rotthoff, the producer of the booklet, from Pelangi Community Foundation stated, “Most asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia are living on one bowl of rice and dried fish daily. Many of the refugees are HIV positive and are in dire need of proper nutrients. The profit from the sale of these booklets goes to help HIV positive and disabled asylum seekers so they can have proper nutritional food. I hope you will show your compassion by purchasing and promoting this booklet.”

Premiere screening of Running

It has been known that copies of poem booklet have been distributing around Malaysia including the special occasion of the Premiere Screening of Running, a documentary on the plight of refugees in Malaysia which is organized by Suaram on Saturday, 21 March 2009 at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market, KL.

“I think distributing of poem booklet is going positive because Mr. Rainer has a lot of contact with local Malaysia NGOs and Churches as well. Rainer got a strong support from Anglican Church to sell poem booklet on coming Sunday” Salai Za Thawng Lian, the poet was born 19th January 1983 in Chin State, Burma. He did post-graduate study in Lay at Dagon University, Yangon until he fled his country. He is active in social community based projects. While in Burma he was the Secretary of Dagon University Christian Fellowship and the general Secretary of Chin

Literature and Culture Committee for the whole country. Due to his political awareness activities among Chin students and his involvement in the September 2007 demonstration, he had to flee Burma to seek asylum in Malaysia. He writes poems in English to express his feelings and thoughts. He has compassion and concern for his country men especially the most unfortunate. The poems contains words and phrase with rhymes in bearing deep meanings of implacable ideologies.

Poem booklet

Mr. Benedict Rogers, East Asia Team Leader, Christian Solidarity Worldwide states, “When you read these poems, please do not just put the book down and think: “What inspiring, challenging poetry”. That is not enough. Please tell others. Too many people around the world today are still unaware of the plight of the people of Burma. Too many people are still ignorant about the extent of the crisis- the crimes against humanity, the torture, the brutal suppression of freedom. You can play a part in helping to change that, to educate people and to help the people of Burma. As Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu KYi, still under house arrest, has said: “Please use your liberty to promote ours.”

Many refugees and asylum-seekers arrested in Malaysia within this month

VOCR

March 20, 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

There was a night raid operation on March 20, 2009 at Jln Pudu where Alliance of Chin Refugees office and Zophei center was located and thousands of Chin refugees and asylum-seekers stay.. The eye witnesses said that 4 Lorries full of people were arrested and taken to detention camps.

It was known that those who have document issued by UNHCR were not arrested in this operation. However, in other places some UNHCR card holders were still arrested. Unconfirmed information source said that people arrested in such raid were immediately deported to Thai border without taking them into detention camps first. At the same time, detention camps have paused their usual deportation program since two months a go.

A new place for refugee pregnant women

VOCR
March 15, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ACTS clinic has started running a new programe for pregnant refugee women. The Clinic has special time on every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm only for the pregnant refugee women. The clinic will referpregnant women to the government hospital formaternity.

Pregnant women used to go to government hospitals or clinics near by their residents where they received medical treatment as well as medical book that indicates one’s pregnancy. However, since two weeks ago, those clinics and hospitals have not been accepting pregnant refugee women. They have been told to go to ACTS clinic at Brickfield in KualaLumpur.

Chin refugee weekly newsletters have announced the information about changing the place for the pregnant women to have medical treatment during their pregnancy.

ACTS clinic is known as the only clinic in Malaysia that works directly with UNHCR office. Vulnerable patients referred by ACTS for registration have opportunity to be registered as asylum-seekers at UNHCR office.

The government hospitals (MCHs) and clinics used to issue a medical book, for each pregnant woman that is useful to have registration as asylum-seekers in UNHCR office.

Aye Aye, a refugee woman from Burma said, “I went to Bahagian MCH at Jalan Hang Tuah, but I was told that they no longer accept refugee women there and told me to go to ACTS clinic. Actually,ACTS clinic is quite far from my resident, I need to take monorail. I would prefer to go to hospital or clinic near by my resident, but it is impossible for me, now.”

Malaysia Special Branch had meeting with Refugee Community leaders in Malaysia

 VOCR

March 14, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia police special branch had held a meeting with refugee community leaders in Malaysia on March 09, 2009 at Kachin Refugee Committee office in Kuala Lumpur.

A community leader who attended the meeting said, “The meeting between community leaders and police special branch has come to the second time with in this year. Before that the community leaders were in fear of police special branch. But such meetings bring mutual understanding and cooperation between refugee communities and Malaysia police in terms of preventing crimes.”

The meeting elected Mr. Robert Tei Thang to be assistant coordinator. He is currently coordinator of ACR.

The responsible persons from police special branch had introduced and explained within its limitation about the work plans to the community leaders.

Almost all Burmese refugee community leaders in Malaysia attended the meeting with great keenness for the safety of their vulnerable refugees.

The voice from a refugee pregnant woman

 by Salai Ram Nun Cung

March 14, 2009,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

VOCR visited one NGO clinic in Brickfield Kuala Lumpur and had had interviewed with some of refugee pregnant women. The VOCR heard that the refugee pregnant women are facing problem to find a place for their medical treatment during and after pregnancy. In order to understand more information about pregnant refugee women, VOCR had had an interview with a pregnant woman, an asylum-seeker from Burma.

VOCR: Could you tell us your name and where you are from?

Dawt: My name is Ms. Dawt and I am an asylumseeker from Chin State, Burma.

VOCR: How long have you been in Malaysia? Are you alone or with your family? How many Chin people are staying with you in your apartment?

Dawt: I have been staying here in Malaysia for more than a year with my husband. I came to Malaysia because my life was not safe in Burma since my husband left me. We do not stay at condominium because the cost is very high. My husband is working at a veterinary and a doctor provides one room for my husband and me, but we are not staying alone because some of our friends from Burma cannot afford a room. So we share them our small. Now, more than 15 persons are staying in one room.

VOCR: Have you been to any clinic before? How long have you been pregnant?

Dawt: I have been pregnant for about five months but never been to any clinic except MCH, as I don’t know how to go around. Besides my husband could only afford our daily bread. I went to MCH clinic last week but they denied my registration. I don't know why they denied my registration. I heard the pregnant women can go and have a treatment at MCH clinic before.

VOCR: Did you have any problems when you go to ACTS clinic?

Dawt: Yes, I did have. The problem was that I cannot either speak Burmese or other foreign

languages besides Lai. (Lai is her mother language; a Chin language of Burma). I blamed myself for not be able to speak Burmese.

VOCR: Wasn’t there any Lai interpreter?

DC: No, there was no Lai interpreter. There was an interpreter who spoke only in Burmese but I could not speak Burmese, that’s why I returned home without having registered for medical treatment.

VOCR: So if you have option to choose whether to go to MCH or ACTS, what will you choose and why?

Dawt: I will surely choose MCH clinic because it is nearer for me and I can go any time during office days but ACTS is only available on Saturday and I know if all refugee women have to approach there once a week, there will be along queue. But I don’t have any choice.

VOCR: Thanks a lot for giving us your time to have this interview.

Dawt: Thank you very much.

Refugees postponed for interviews

VOCR

March 10, 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

When a person was registered by UNHCR office normally he was given another appointment date for RSD (Refugee Status Determination interview) after six months. It was obvious that early this year many asylum-seekers were reappointed for their RSD interview after they waited six month.

A Chin refugee old man who came to UNHCR office from a distance place in Malaysia – Sitiawang, Perak State said, "I was registered in last year August. My appointment date for RSD is today. I came to UNHCR office at 8:00am in the morning and waited till over 3:00 pm. Without interviewing me and telling me any reasons I was only told that my RSD interview is postponed to another six months."

It is believed that UNHCR in Malaysia is lack of man power that causes unnecessary delay of processing for refugees.

Nine including 2 children arrested in Cameron Highland

Seihnam
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 3, 2009

Nine Chin refugees from Burma including 2 children were arrested on March 3, 2009 at their plastic shelter in plantation area in Cameron Highland, Malaysia. They were arrested in operation held by Rela.


Residents in Cameron highland said that there was operation in a place called 49 block at around 10 pm at night on March 3. Two children arrested in the operation were girls.

The detained Chin asylum-seekers are being kept at Langkap detention camp. It has also been reported that the two young girls are sick in the detention camp. Cameron Highland is located at about 5 hours bus drive from Kuala Lumpur and it is estimated that at least 300 Chin asylum-seekers are staying there.

Residences of 300 Chin refugees from Burma struggled under flood

March 09, 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It was known that since March 3, 2009 Chin refugees Kolam Air, Jalan Ipoh area, Kuala Lumpur have been facing tragedies of flood. Estimated numbers of 300 refugees most are Chins from Burma have been staying in the area. It has been reported that some of the refugee families out of the victims have lost their belonging such as food and clothes and some had moved temporarily to another area in Kuala Lumpur.

Photo of flooded area taken at 6:10pm on March 03, 2009

A victim who is from Hriphi village, Thantlang Township, Chin State and witnessed the incident

said, “The rain poured down heavily since around 4:00pm in the evening and did not stop for an hour. After the rain stopped irrigation besides our residence that is about 80sqre feet wide was flooded unexpectedly.”

The victims reported that some of their belonging such as their bed, TV, friedge etc…were swept by the water. A few victims were reported injuring cuts with pieces of broken glasses. Jalan Ipoh is located about 10 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur. Among the victims, estimated number of 20 families are Chin ethnic people from Burma including 80 women and some young babies and children.

Photo: high level of flood

Chinland Guardian news reported, “Members of a Christian Church called SIBKL were said to have provided the Chin victims with food and allowed about 15 people to sleep in the church building. The Chin leaders and pastors in Malaysia visited and encouraged the flood victims with prayers and services.”

It was also known that most of the victims are still waiting for their time to get registered as asylumseekers by UNHCR office in Malaysia even though some of them were already approved by UNHCR office as refugees.

UNHCR office in Malaysia had some specific strategies and policies of registering refugees in Malaysia. Only vulnerable asylum-seekers and pregnant women verified by authorized clinics and government hospital, other applicants referred by UNHCR offices from another countries and a very few persons such as community leaders and so on have been registered at UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur. UNHCR had registered thousands of asylum-seekers within last year by using registration system called “Mobile Registration” but stopped it since first week of December 2008 till today.

Many asylum-seekers in Malaysia including the victims of the flood have been waiting patiently for their time to get registered.

8 months pregnant asylum-seeker woman and children detained in Malaysia

Salai Eagle

VOCR, March 2, 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8 months pregnant, asylum-seeker woman from Burma and her two children were arrested in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, by Rela operation on 30th of January 2009. They have been detained in Semeyith detention camps in Malaysia.

Pi Hoi Cer, 8 months pregnant belongs to Chin ethnicity from Burma. Her 13 years old daughter Par Iang Hnem and two years old son called Van Bawi Lian were also arrested together with pi Hoi Cer at their resident in Ampang, KL.

As the woman’s relatives had reported about her details to Chin Refugee Center in KL, it is known that the center has requested UNHCR office in KL for further intervention for the women and children in the detention center.

Furthermore, it has been known that UNHCR had already intervened for the asylum-seeker family in the detention and granted the opportunity to have registration.

Ms. Sei Tin Lal who is supposed to depart to USA for resettlement of 5th of March was also arrested on 20th of February 2009. She has been detained in Lengang detention camps. She was arrested at Jalan Imbi.

Nowadays refugees in Malaysia especially who are in Kuala Lumpur have been living in fear for night raids that has been constantly heard in different places of Kuala Lumpur.

Peter, a Chin refugee from Burma said, "Last Saturday night, I was informed that there will be raid at our building that night, so I left my room and stayed at my friends for one night, but the raid did not happened actually."

VOCR met a Chin refugee patient in Kuala Lumpur Hospital

Salai Ram Nun Cung

VOCR, March 2, 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pu Hme Ceu, a Chin refugee from Van Zang village, Thanthlang Township in Chin State was visited by VOCR at Chowkit in Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Pu Hme Ceu has been feeling kidney disease and lung T.B for more than 3 months.

He has been hospitalized at Kuala Lumpur Hospital since February 23, 2009 and he has treatment with his UNHCR document (RN1236868). He is about 36 years old and is very

thin because of his sickness.

He has three children and they stay at Klang, about 70 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur. He arrived to Malaysia in 2006 and he was registered by UNHCR in 2007.

The wife and children arrived to Malaysia in 2008 but they still do not registered with UNHCR. His wife is very discomfort for her beloved husband because when blood donation is required, his wife has to sign for an agreement with a doctor but she does not have rights to sign, as she is undocumented.

His wife said, "I feel very sad because we are facing financial problem so seriously as well as worrying for the arrest and detention while my husband is till in critical condition."

The doctor said, "He is in critical condition so we can assure only 50% for his recovery."

Since June 2008, UNHCR has stopped registration of family member and dependents of refugees to include in the principle applicants. It is believed that shortage of man power is the main cause of the delay. While waiting for registration, refugee families with young kids and women had been facing daily challenges and living in fear, as they are undocumented.

The refugee families have been told by UNHCR office to give their names to their respective community offices in order to register their family members and dependents.