A Chin Refugee Lost Contact in Malaysia

VOCR

26th Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

Mr. Sui Hu from Leikang village, Thantlang Township, living in Malaysia for nine years has been out of touch with his relatives and villagers for almost nine months now. Although all the villagers have searched for him, no one has located him yet. It is therefore believed that he could be in jail or even dead, for it is strange for someone from the Chin community not to be in touch with his relatives or villagers for so long. He has been a recognized Chin refugee since 2006 and is the holder of UNHCR card 354-06C 03909.

In December 2007 between Christmas and the New Year, the father of three children decided to change his job and work at another place in order to earn a better salary. He therefore moved to Shah Alam and took a new job working at a construction site. At that time, he was still contactable by his friends and he even called his old roommate to invite him to join him, working on that site.

After he worked one month in Shah Alam, he suddenly went missing and couldn't be contacted by his relatives and colleagues. However, in April, 2009, his boss told his friends that Mr. Sui Hu had recently married a Burmese woman and was living and working on another construction site. At that time, the boss also suggested that his friends to visit him and present some gifts for his marriage together with their congratulation.

Two month later, he left the construction site one day and never returned to the villager's house. After, he had not come back to the villager's house for a sometime the villager leaders in Malaysia, being concerned about his absence, contacted his wife in Myanmar to see if he had been in touch with her. She told them that she had heard nothing since he went missing in Malaysia.

Sadly, the villagers and Chin refugee's community in Malaysia said that they are reluctant to lodge a report with the police, fearing that the police will create trouble during any further investigation because he is a refugee. However, they are hoping that the UNHCR office will take action to search for him as he needs to attend an interview to process his refugee status.

The villagers and Chin community are still searching and they would like to ask the Chin people around the globe to keep alert and inform the community or the villager leaders if they hear anything of Mr. Sui Hu.

If you have any information regarding Mr. Sui Hu please call 017-3450925 or 03-21447271.

by Salai C C