Over 130 refugees released from a Malaysia detention center

VOCR
April 11, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Over refugees and asylum-seekers detained in Semuyith detention in Malaysia were released after they had served their prison terms completely. It was known that most of them faced whipping. Some were canned for 3 strokes and most were canned for 2 strokes.

The detainees were released on 7th, 9th and 10th of April this year. On the first day, over 50 detainees were released, on the second day and 70 people were supposed to be released but it was known that over 60 detainees were successfully released and they were brought back to UNHCR office by two buses. On the 10th day, 27 detainees were released from the same detention center. UNHCR issued, certified copies documents that identify the bearer as a person of concern under UNHCR office as asylum-seeker, to asylum-seekers. Those who had been registered with UNHCR received their documents again. After receiving their UNHCR documents and appointment dates for next interview, the detained refugees and asylum seekers happily return to their residents.

Mr. Boi, a Chin ethnic asylum-seeker from Burma said, “I am so thanks full to UNHCR office for helping us released from the detention. If they did not help us, I could not think about staying many many days and nights inside that detention camp. I know that there is no deportation. I would like to say thanks a lot to UNHCR office in Malaysia.” In the middle of March, it was known that, the magistrate in Semuyith detention camp had sentenced over 100 asylum-seekers and illegal migrants including over 60 Chin asylum-seekers, for two to four months imprisonment and 1-3 strokes of whipping.

The court sentenced them after the detainees pleaded guilty. It was also known that UNHCR officers could not present during their court date. The asylum-seekers and refugees could not have time to have legal counseling. They pleaded guilty not knowing the consequences of it. UNHCR office tried to appeal for four Chin asylum seekers at PJ court, but they failed as those four Chin asylum seekers were not registered yet by UNHCR office. The unregistered asylum-seekers have been treated the same with illegal migrant workers.