Couple detainee reached in Talu Intan Hospital

7th June,2010
Kuala Lumpur

In an effort of meeting Stella, who was about to deliver baby, aged 21 of her UNHCR ref: 791-09C16827 from Mindat town, Chin state, rescue team of CRC visited her in Talu Intan Hospital, which is two hours and half drive from KL, after UNHCR informing CRC.

She was arrested on 31^st, May, 2010 at 6:00 am in Cameron Highlands along with her spouse (Ha Sing, UNHCR ref is the same) in their house, including their two fellows from Mindat and one from Matupi in the Cameron highlands combined-operation with RELA and Immigration.

"Chin refugee arrestees are locked up in Block (F), Langkap Camp where over thousands of detainees still remained. Precisely, there are more than 150 officers and staffs and 1000 detainees in the Langkap Camp, where is the most crowded camp in Malaysia" according to two female immigration officer reported to VOCR in the hospital.

It is, by contrast, reported that there are about 1300 detainees in Langkap Camp, quoted OPI's officer (Outreach Protection Intervention), which is under the branch of UNHCR as saying to VOCR, adding that we, UNHCR truly attempt to release all recognised refugees detained in the Detention centres and Camps, but no choice we, first of all, have to wait for permission from authority to enter and meet detainees one by one as in process based on the reports submitted to UNHCR by each of community body.

"As of her pregnancy period was in due time to nearly deliver, she was admitted on 14/5/2010 in Danalatah Hospital in Cameron highlands where they are stranding and out in the afternoon of 30/5/2010" said Stella (POC) to VOCR in her room (26) in Hosp.

The team started visiting Talu Intan hospital at 1:20 pm and arrived there at 4:00 pm. By the time the team got there, two female immigration officers are on the guard for her as was their duty.

Stella's spouse, Ha Sing newly released from Langkap Camp, along with OPI's officer who came 3 hrs late in the hospital reported that he was beaten up and some of his inmates got severely tortured as soon as they entered the cell. In addition, limited water supply and salty food was only available in the cell. All detainees were cut baldy.

"My inmates would likely take a notice that I was released by UNHCR officer because I myself didn't realize that I was released since the cell guard called me to move to another cell. To be honest, the coming of UNHCR is the greatest hope we can keep in mind as for a detainee" said Ha Sing.

Ha Sing told the team that there are about 11 Chin refugees still remain in the Camp. Even more, he so far passionately reported three of the detention code numbers as follows: Shwe Ha of 2279, 2280, 2281 to the team, other code numbers are unable to get to know for they are in different cells. 

In an interview with VOCR, he mentioned that I was so lucky that I wasn't in the camp for unlike the first time I was detained for three weeks. At that time, he was not only arrested but also extorted of his RM 103 in hand and brand-new hand phone priced RM 580 by the police.

Stellar was in joyous tears at a time when she saw her beloved husband released from the doomed camp, and allowed him standing by her bed for just a limited time as is the hospital regulation.

"UNHCR body is really worried that all detainees would lest be under malnutrition as long as there is no better improvement of daily provision for the detainees" said the OPI officer who followed CRC team. 

Thanks to the UNHCR rescue team which tireless and relentless attempt day and night for the sake of the detained recognised refugees' release in the region wide in Malaysia.