Acknowledgement and Concern of Chin Refugees Resettled to USA

Chin refugees those who arrived to USA feel safe and happy in their new homes in USA. Tha Tha A Chin refugee women in Texas said, "In Malaysia, I had never have a sound sleep for three years because I was always afraid of night raids. But here in USA I feel completely safe. I know that there is no more night raids, here in USA."

Hundreds of Chin refugees have been resettled to USA within the last 3 years. Many of them are known to have reunion with their family members those who left the country earlier due to on going inhuman military oppression in Chin State. A leader of Chin Youth Organization of North America said "After arriving to USA, it is obvious that we the Chin people help one another in our community. For example, a newly arrived refugee family does not have a car to go to groceries but the neighbors would surely help them and even help them to find a job where they have been working." As all of Chin people are Christian, they have Christian brotherly love to one another in terms of facing the challenges.

Mr. Uk, who was stay in Baltimore, Maryland expresses, "There is no Chin case worker in resettlement office but only Burmese. I can understand only a very little Burmese language. Sometimes interpreters are provided for me by telephone that is actually not preferable because by telephone it is very difficult to understand one another. Sometimes, I have many problems but I just try to ignore it." Hundreds of Chin refugees are in Maryland State, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Dallas but it can be seen that in all of those places only Burmese Case workers are employed in order to handle Chin refugees. A Chin University student in US comments regarding this issue, "There is a big misunderstanding that Chins are still called as Burmese. Actually Chins and Burmese are different nations. Chins are ruled and abuse by Burmese military government."

A Chin refugee hit by car in Malaysia

VOCR

21st December,2009

Kuala Lumpur

 

A chin refugee, Mr. Za Hnin (37) from Leitak village was hit by a car on 20th December, 2009 at Jalan Loke Yew, Kuala Lumpur. The accident happened when he was crossing the highway between his friend house and his residence. He was injured several places on his head and his face. His thigh also is broken and was admitted to UKM hospital.

“When Mr. Za Hnin crossed the highway alone and hit by a car to break his leg and unable to walk, he had nobody to call for help around him. But after a moment, the rescuers from fire department arrived and called Ambulance to rush him to the hospital. When the Ambulance arrived, one of Chin refugee, who lives near Za Hnin’s residence, accompanied him to the hospital before the Chin Community Committee worker arrived. Right now, everything is going well and we had already done every thing in the hospital but we still cannot find out the driver” his friend said.

“Mr. Za Hnin, holder of UNHCR card and lives in cramp flat with his wife and one child, has financial problem for his medical treatment. He gained registration as refugee on September this year and he still have to stay in Malaysia for two or three years and needs to take care of his family in Malaysia. We really worry that whether he will recover properly” the roommate said.

Previously, One of Mr. Za Hnin’s roommate also was hit by a car and admitted to General Hospital in Kuala Lumpur but he paid RM 7,000 for recovery.

In Malaysia, Local NGOs as well as Legal Aid cannot help this kind of accident cases in court except supporting the patients financially .

 

 

By Salai C C

A Chin refugee detainee suddenly laid down in custody

VOCR
18th December, 2009

Kuala Lumpur

 

This is a gain. “A Chin refugee detainee A Thang who is being detained at Langkap immigration in Malaysia fell down and became unconscious yesterday. He fell down because of depression and unbearable agony inside his heart after he was excluded among 60 detainees who were released by the UNHCR team recently,” one inmate said.

A Thang, holder of UNHCR card file no. 791-08C 01498 from Hriangpi village, was arrested by People Volunteer Corp at his workplace in Cameron highland, 220 km away from Kuala Lumpur, on 13th October, 2009.

Lautu Refugee Coordinator and Bawinu weekly newsletter Editor Salai Tin Hmung said that Mr. A Thang who has four children in Myanmar and working at the farm in Cameron Highland was fainted and fell down on concrete floor with unknown disease. He believed that A Thang was demoralized and fell down because he was excluded in the detainee list brought by UNHCR team to be released.

“I don’t believe that the camp authority will send him to the hospital even though he is in critical condition. They (the camp authority) always denied to access healthcare into the camp and some foreign detainees had died in the camp” Salai Tin Hmung added.

Despite the UNHCR team had released at least 60 detainees within this week, more than 15 refugee detainees are still remained in the camp.

 

 

By Salai C C

A female Chin refugee charged over suspecting fake UNHCR card holder

VOCR
17th December,2009
Kuala Lumpur
 
by Salai C C

A Chin refugee Tawk Tial, holder of UNHCR card file no. 354-08C03557 who works at TV game shop, was charged over holding fake UNHCR card by the injustice Malaysia court. She was arrested by the police at her workplace and was detained for twelve days in Sentul police station.
 

Even though she is holder of real UNHCR card, the immigration and police accused her of holding fake UNHCR card. She has been recognized refugee from Myanmar by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia and issued the card in the same year.

When she was arrested by the police, her boss said to her husband that she had already been fined RM 2000 for her release. But later, her case was referred to immigration office and accused her of undocumented person.

She appeared to court on 17th December, 2009 and was found guilty under holding fake UNHCR card and working without proper document in Malaysia. As the lawyer approved the offence which was brought by the immigration office, she was given another appointment in January next year and was transferred from the police station to Kajang immigration camp.

The husband with tear said that he went to UNHCR office to inform that his wife is appointed to appear to court and asked UNHCR office to send one interpreter during her trail but the OPI team denied his claim. He also mentioned to the OPI officer that his wife is holder of real UNHCR card and asked the officer to write recommendation letter for his wife. But the officer told him that they could not help him anything regarding the matter.

“I believed that my wife would be released if we had recommendation letter from UNHCR office. We have one lawyer from Legal Aid office. But when the magistrate asked the lawyer to show recommendation letter for my wife from UNHCR office, our lawyer has nothing to show” the husband added.

Chin refugee detainee died in custody

VOCR
10th December, 2009
Kuala Lumpur
 
by Salai C C

A chin refugee formally known as Mr. Ngo Za Pau (45) from Thuklai village, Teddim Township, died at KLIA immigration camp in Malaysia on 9th December 2009. He arrived to Malaysia in 2004 and was arrested by the police on the unknown date and was detained in Seminyih camp.

He was seriously sick and admitted to the hospital by the camp authority because his condition become worse and was dying. Some community workers believed that the camp authority admitted him to the hospital when he was dying because they feared that he might die inside the custody. His body has been still keeping in Putra Jaya hospital for further investigation.

He had already registered with United Nation High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) since 2004 and had been issued the card in the same year. He was also engaged to resettle to United State and had passed all interviews which were set up by the UNHCR office for refugees.

Even though he had UNHCR card the police arrested him at Pudu car parking on his way back from workplace and spontaneously taken him to Seminyih camp. But no information was given to his relatives and refugee community in Malaysia. Eventually, he was transferred to KLIA camp because the camp authorities and Burmese detainees riot at seminyih camp in July, 2009.

According to his cousin brother, “Mr. Ngo Za Pau was not allowed to contact me within two weeks since he was under arrest. That time, we think that he had already lost to come back home. After two weeks, he was allowed to contact us but he had already been accused of undocumented and illegal entrance to the country by immigration”.

According to the law quotation brochure released by Bar Council, every arrestee has a right to inform one’s relative or one’s relevant community within fourteen days before they appear to court.

As the camp authority in KLIA denied to access medical team to the camp, two of Chin refugees and other detainees had passed away in the camp. The camp analyzers who often visited to the camp said that the detention camp condition is getting worse but harassment made by the authority is increasing day by day. The local NGOs also released a statement regarding the camp condition that says, “Denying to access healthcare inside the camp and custody is violation to life”.

In other hand, all foreign prisoners in Seremban custody are not allowed to use their mother-tongue except Bahasa and English to contact their relatives and community.