John Ceu Cung Nung funeral held in Seremban

VOCR

29/08/2009,

Kuala Lumpur 

 

by Salai C C,
Salai John Ceu Cung Nung is a chin student activist and volunteerable for Chin refugees in Malaysia. Unexpectedly, He was hit by a car on 26/08/2009 at Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur and immediately, he was admitted to Pandan Mewah hospital at 8:30 PM. He was severely wounded on his punch; his bow and head as well. As he was seriously wounded, bleeding from his injured on his head till the body was taken at forensic department in the hospital.

John Ceu Cung Nung personally demostrating in Yangon, Myanmar on Sep. 2007

 

When the accident happen a Burmese’s women informed to Chin Refugee Center in Kuala Lumpur but no identification and name were given.She said that two of chin refugees are hit by a car and the police rushed them at Panden Mewah hospital. Just the Chin refugeeoffice received information health coordinator immediately tried to find out the detail and went to the hospital but he was unconscious.

After he was two days and nights in hospital he passed away without saying any word with his family and his friends in Malaysia. He is the one reliable for his villagers and Chin refugee in Malaysia as well.
Salai John Ceu Cung Nung was actively participated at Saffron revolution (the monk demonstration) in Myanmar on September, 2007 and was hunted by the military army and Village Councilor Chairman (VCC) to be arrested. As he could not be safe his life at all and afraid of being arrested by the most worsen military government on the world he leaved his home country for his safety in 2007 to Malaysia. He was recognized refugee and he had already finished Department of Homeland Security (DHS), so he had already engaged to resettle in the United State. But he took a rest with peace before resettlement to the United State.

The Chin's mouners carrying flowers and walking to the tomb.

 

One of John's friends and a Chin activist Salai Z T Lian said, “I am deeply saddened by John’s death. I know that John has not only loved democracy and freedom but also believed in them. He was one of the heroes in September, 2007Demonstration on Yangon streets. John usually spoke of Democracy and Freedom, and often criticized Regime Education System when we even met at Tea Shop. Indeed, he has a lot of dream for himself, his Chinland and his country. His voice for Democracy and Freedom will remain forever although he left us on 28/8/2009 as a refugee life in Malaysia”.

 

“John death is unbelievable for anyone who knows him. I feel like a bad dream when I heard the news John has died. Immediately, I went to the hospital to get death certificated but he was still a live in my heart. I cannot believe that even I saw his body in mortuary. I believed that he may have many words to say with his family, his friends and the Chin people around the world. He is our hero and we have to learn many things from what he has done in the past” Salai Ram Nun Cung said.

While John was a live he was elected for chairman of Chin Exile Student Union and he served for more than one year. In 2008, he also volunteered for interpreter at International Organization for Migrant (IOM) department in UNHCR but he resigned because of his health.

His funeral service was held on 29/08/2009 at Seramban cemetery and more than 300 Chin refugee mourners from Kuala Lumpur area were attended.

Refugee Organizations and the UNHCR held meeting

VOCR

21 August 2009,

Kuala Lumpur

by Salai C C,

The UNHCR office in Malaysia and all refugee Organizations held a meeting on 21 August, 2009 at Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. There are 64 refugee communities and organizations in Malaysia and three representatives from each community and organization attended it. The meeting was hosted by the UNHCR.

Ms. Latchimi from the UNHCR office initiated the meeting and followed by Mr. Elan Vernon (Chief of Mission), and delivered about Social Protection. He said to all participants, “The reason why we call you to attend a meeting with us is that we want to find a new method which would be helpful and benefit for your communities. He also distinguished that how much they wanted to help all refugees in Malaysia, adding they had been in touch with refugee organizations for long time but they still wanted to improve relationship between refugee organizations and the UNHCR.

He also described relating to refugee status in Malaysia that the refugees were in risky-security, no right to employ, housing, education and health. Refugees were isolated across the urban landscape, often group in small enclaves.

According to Ms. Latchimi, the UNHCR is ready to provide RM 10,000 for a community which had been registered with the UNHCR. But every community must write proposal and have to explain their expenditure as well before receiving the fund. The communities who want to register with the UNHCR for this fund must have at least less than 100 members.

In the meeting, the participants were divided into twelve persons for one group to discuss what is the most three vulnerable in their communities and what new project they will start if the ten thousands Ringit (RM 10,000) was provided.

CRC Coordinator Mr Kennedy presenting their resolution
made on group discussion

The participants were excitedly and joyfully made a resolution on their discussion that they would spend the money for HIV& TB patients who cannot pay their medical costs and to run new school for refugee children in Malaysia.

The UHNCR has been starting mobile registration from July and approximately (7107) refugees had been registered. All refugees are waiting for their turns as the UHNCR continue registration.

Refugees waiting for their turns in mobile registration

An Unforgettable Mt. Gunnung Berinchang(Height 6666FT)

by Salai Z T lian

Rosemary (ACTS, Director) called me and asked whether I was willing to climb the mountain with Allen and Juliet, organized by Yayansan Nanyan Press Foundation, on 16/8/2009 to 17/8/2009 while I was wrestling with my work in Mental Health Department, ACTS. Due to the doubt on my fitness and presuming of hard competition, I requested Rosemary to give me a few times to make decision whether I would be able to climb the mountain as I thought it may be hard competition and I felt that I may need to check my fitness since I didn’t have exercises for a couple of years.

At night, I was thinking of whether I should participate in this climbing mountain or not? After taking a day, I have decided to participate in this climbing whatever my fitness may be. And then, I informed her that I made decision to participate in climbing the mountain. She said to me on the phone, “Thank you very much, Salai for being willing to climb the mountain”.
Two days later, Janet sent me a letter regarding to what things I may need to bring along with me in case of raining etc... I have read it carefully. I came to know that I needed to buy a rain-coat after reading a letter from Janet. In order to buy it, I went to Pudu Plaza with Salai Van Cin Mang & Van Kham Hrang Lung and bought a rain-coat. And then, I came back to ACTS clinic where I stay with Van Moong.

The time has come to pack my clothes for leaving to Cameron Highlands where I would also participate in climbing Mt. Gunnung Berinchang. While I was putting clothes into the bag, a message entered in my phone. This message was from Jennifer and said, “About 8:00pm, Adrian and I would like to have a dinner with Allen, Juliet and you”. I replied to her, “Thank you very much. See you tonight,”

It was about 5:50pm on 15/8/2009 when I was leaving to ACTS Office with a small bag on my back. Allen and Juliet were already there when I have arrived ACTS Office about 6:30pm.Jenifer and her husband Adrian picked us up around 8:30pm at ACTS Office and brought us to a very fantastic restaurant: Kim Gary restaurant. We ordered food what we liked to eat as Jennifer and Adrian told us to order whatever food we liked or how much it was. After enjoying delicious food there, we came to ACTS Office, PJ where we slept for a night before leaving to Cameron Highlands. 16 August about 6:00am, Rosemary picked us up at ACTS Office and took us to Nanyan Press Foundation Office in Subang where the Bus to take us was ready to leave.

A lovely young lady Jess asked me enthusiastically, “which organization are you from?” “We are from ACTS”, I answered her. “Your name is Salai, his name is Allen, and her name is Juliet, right?” She asked me. “Yes”, I replied with bowing my head. “Ok, please can you take a seat on the bus?” She told us. And then, we went into the bus where a couple of people greeted us with smiling. A few minutes later, our Bus was heading to Cameron Highlands. On the Bus, I felt the bus tried to lull me like as a mother rocking a child to asleep on her chest.

We arrived to Cameron Highlands after riding the bus for over 4 hours. There were fresh air and green trees which made us relaxed. We enjoyed fresh vegetable and food for Lunch, and then we went up to Hotel De La Ferns where we have to stay for a night. We all went into our own room. Some were resting by stretching their body on bed. Some were also talking each other. A few hours later, we went together to view Strawberry, various flowers and other plantations. It was fascinated to see Strawberry. Flowers were also so romantic. Cameron Highlands’ beauty was unbelievable.

The time came to go back to the Hotel before my desire was not enough to look around. We had a rest for a while in Hotel, and then we went for dinner. After dinner, we had a meeting especially for what we needed to know before climbing the mountain. Ann (Yayansan Nanyan Press Foundation, Director) began briefing about the purpose of this climbing mountain. She urged us that we have to climb the mountain as a team, and reminded us that we should have full cooperation. Mr. Chin (our leader of climbing) told us that what we have to do if we lost the right way, and we should not leave anything else in mountain whatever we carry along with us. The leader of blind group shared his belief that with our help, they (blind people) can get the peak of mountain. He also told us that how to take care of blind people and how to lead the blind people in the jungle. His optimism was unimaginable. After the meeting, we said goodnight to each other and we went to bed. 17 August morning appeared with cold mist .It was the day to start climbing the mountain. We were heading to the bottom of mountain from the Hotel. We were briefed a little bit about climbing the mountain and took group photos after we have reached at the mountain bottom.

It was a foggy and chilly morning where around 60 people including 18 blind persons from Malaysia Association of the Blind (MAB) and myself were gathering to climb Mt. Gunnung Berinchang amid freezing wind. Its height is 6666ft/2031m. Freezing wind chilled us with rainy coldness, but our hearts were still warm. This warmness pushed our hope and belief more vigilant to go forward. Compassion of young’s eyes also gave confident to blind persons to climb up the mountain where dense forest is as dark as night. Actually, it may be even hard to imagine for healthy people to dare climbing such height of mountain through steep and slippery jungle, but all of us including blind people didn’t think that we may not be able to hike the mountain. But we were excited to know of how we could make a difference.

It was 7:00 am over on 17/8/2009. Various birds were waiting for a better day to come by singing the songs. We also waited for our leader to lead us. As our leader was in the position of readiness to start climbing, we were lining up behind him in order to follow him. A few minutes later, the leader started leading us into deep jungle site through a lot of mud and tree roots. We were very careful not to fall down or to break our legs since there were a lot of mud and tree roots which could make us fall.

The dense forest was filled with the voices of saying, “Give me your hand… give me your hand please”. “Please give me your hand, don’t worry for something to happen to you in this journey because I am here to take care of you to get the top of mountain”, one of our friends said to his friend who is blind.“Thank you, without your help, I can’t make it. But with your help, I can”, the blind man also told to one of our friends.

The voices of calling: “Abang (brother),Kawan (friend) and Kak (Sister) were melodious with various birds’ singing in the jungle”. The voices of the kind offering: “Give me your hand, please be careful” and “Hold me please and there is a lot of akr (roots)” strengthened us in climbing Mt. Gunnung Berinchang through muddy, slippery, steep and dense forests.

Gently asking, “Are you ok, Kawan (friend)” made us forget our tiredness. Seriously, our concern for one another in the jungle overcame challenge and all of us have reached at the peak of mountain earlier than we estimated. Our success in climbing the mountain indicated that if there is cooperation between the less fortunate and the more fortunate, can be achieved.
All of us (mountain climbers) celebrated happily by clapping our hands, hugging each other and shouting joyfully at the top of Mt. Gunnung Berinchang (photo). The sky shed its happy tears when it heard our triumph. The courageous spirit of blind people and the kind cooperation of local Malaysians were amazing. The leader of (18) blind persons said firmly that the blind people got confidence and interaction through climbing the mountain successfully with their fellow human.

Although, my heart still yearned to view Cameron Highlands’ natural beauty, and shared joy with the less fortunate but courageous, and the possessors of the kind heart there, but the time to say goodbye to them. Actually, it was too soon to say GOODBYE to them. However, a moment of climbing Mt. Gunnung Berinchang with them remains as an unforgettable part of my life.

A chin refugee attacked and robbed by gangsters

VOCR
19 Aug, 2009,

Kuala Lumpur

by Salai C C,

Mr. Thang Uk, Chin refugee from Zephai village was beaten and robbed by the seven-people group of robbery on his way to home from his friend apartment. On 19 August evening, he went to his friend apartment to inquire for working with him as he is currently unemployed. But unfortunately, he encountered with the gang on his way back to home.

The victim said, “The gangsters stopped me and the one who is believed to be Malaysian Chinese approached me and stabbed me with a knife, asking do you want to die. But fortunately, I covered with my left hand and I am not wounded seriously”.

Mr. Thang Uk was recognized as refugee in 2008 and was issued the UNHCR card (Ref No. 354- 08C 4788) on August 17, 2009. When he was attacked by the gangsters they robbed his UNHCR card and wallet including (RM 170) as well.

Not only Mr. Thang Uk but also many chin refugees had been attacked and two chin refugees Mr. Tluang Hei who was volunteer able for chin refugee and Mr. Duh Hnin, 7 years old CSO student, were hit by the car to death in this area where Mr. Thang Uk was attacked.

More than 50 people arrest on Saturday and Sunday

VOCR

15 August, 2009

Kuala Lumpur

 

by Salai C C,

 

On 15 August, the police without uniform raided Jalan Imbi and more than 7 people were arrested. The raid started at 3: 15 evening and many of the chin refugees were fled to hide in another place. On 16 August, Sunday evening, when the chin refugees were their way home from the church the police and CID were started to raid among them and around 50 people were arrested. At the same time, the police also raid Jalan Pudu where the Alliance of Chin Refugee office (ACR) located but we cannot confirm how many people were arrested in PUDU. They were taken to Bukit Jali lock-up. According to one of volunteer worker in Chin refugee office said that just we received a call and saying the police are raiding Jalan Imbi, the Chin Refugee Committee informed all the people in the office not to go out and they waited until the raid finished.

Photo credit: AP **ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, AUG. 16** In this photo taken on Thursday,

July 23, 2009, shelters accommodate detainees at the Lenggeng immigration detention

center, south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“After the raid finished one of community leader went to the police station and trying to intervene for their release but he failed because of private intervention. The private intruders had already promise with the police to fine the money for only their relative , so the police officer ignored demanding of a community leader. In previous time, we could release some detainees but today, we can not do nothing. I feel very sad for the people who are under arrested. We hope that the thing will go as usual in previous time but we failed everything because of private intruders” he said.

“We don’t know the reason why the police arrest those who have UNHCR card? Jalan Imbi is a place where the chin refugee office located and many of Chin refugees are staying. The raid is not only one time they had already raided many times before” one refugee man said.

Regarding to arrest and detention, one interpreter from the UNHCR office said that the Malaysia authority do not allow the UNHCR team to meet and register Burmese refugees in the jail, immigration camp and lock-up during fasting month that will be started on next month.

New School Calling for Volunteer Teachers

VOCR

August 8, 2009

Kuala Lumpur

 

By Salai C C,

 

Zotung Refugee Committee has established a private school at Sungai Besi, KL. They have four volunteer teachers who are qualified and able to teach at high school level. The opening ceremony was held on August 2^nd, and more than 20 people from the Australian High Commission in Malaysia and some parents were present.

According to the ZCR chairman, “the school is open to all Chin refugee children in Malaysia. We have divided the school into four classes in order for the teachers to teach the students at their own levels. We established this school not only for the children’s education, but also for their safety. Their parents go to work every day and they cannot take care of their own children. It has retarded the growth of the children, so we decided to set up this school. We hope that it would give us good results and improvement as well. We are all responsible for our children.”

Concerning the safety of the school for the children, the chairman said that they have not yet received the recommendation letter from the Community Development Unit (CDU) of the UNHCR office but they hope to receive it soon. “When we get this recommendation letter from the CDU department, our school will be a safer place for the children to be in than their own homes.”

The school is now looking for volunteer part-time teachers who can offer their time and skills to teach the English language as well as Bible lessons in English.

Any person who wants to volunteer may call the following numbers for more information:

ZCR contact nos.

012- 3439973

012- 7046 348