The Missing Chin Refugees Come Home

Kuala Lumpur: On 19 September; Jemin Aung, Sang Zel Thang and Biak Sang, who all are genuine recognised refugees with the office of UNHCR, had been gone reportedly missing near Plaza Metro Kajang where they were supposed to meet there with their friend who was on the way to pick them up there, said Mr. Veng Kam, an elder from the same village in Chin state, Myanmar.

It was tough times for families facing the very crucial condition of three men of Chin refugee missing, appearing that there seemed no traceable trend of search. 

Mr. Duh Hmung, who was working together with them two days ago before they’re lost, was suggesting that they could have been arrested and directly sent to the detention camp for a friend hurried to pick them up saw a lot of police patrolling around that area by the time he got there. Another specualtion is, they would be kept somewhere as ransom by the Indian boss for whom they have been working. 

Asked if reason of why they ran away from work, they couldn't help staying any longer without the pay they deserved and in addition to that, they eventually found out there's nothing more to get but to work as if a hard-labor only. Obviously, they were just working as slaves. When complaining to the boss, who claimed he paid Rm-500 agent fees for each of them to the Burmese guy, it appeared he didn't want to do anything they requested, continued in an interview.

So, the employer got to know about the prepared plan of runaway and locked them up in a room. They only could leave the room when it was time to work. However, they somehow they were able to manage to send messages to friends for help and to pick them up at Plaza Metro,Kajang. But friend didn't find them when getting there to pick them up at the said place.

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A week later, they reportedly came to the Chin refugee body in order to seek further help and advices to find what's happening about after a week of their exhausting search. At once, it was learnt that they were helped contacting Akka who took a lead to reach to Indian boss and told him the speculations over the whereabouts of the missing persons. After all, it seemed there's no positive outcome according to talks with the Akka, the so-called Burmese agent on the phone, citing the speculation was being clouded as their whereabouts remain untraceable. 

On the verge of tireless endeavor for farther search, there sprang up with very good news that the missing persons finally could make a way out from the two-week long lock-up of the Indian employer and got home on 09 October. It was reported that they ran away as soon as they could pick up their phones and UNHCR's cards which were kept in the hands of Indian man since they were caught back in front of Plaza Metro- where they were supposed to meet with their dated friend.  

It was precisely learnt that the Indian man had them worked and carried things on truck in which they suddenly happened to find their phones and UNHCR's cards and hurried running away fast just while the Indian man was doing some small stuffs inside the house. According to what the victims transpired during the interview, they do suspect of Burmese guy, Akka who made them moved to Indian man, was selling them to him as ransom.

by Simon

Rise of Chin Refugee Caned

Kuala Lumpur: 19 Oct, Van Lian Hmung, a recognized Chin refugee holder of UNHCR's card 791-09C02651 was arrested at the dawn operation of Police and Rela in Cheras Taman Lensen at 2:00 am on 11 March, 2010. The operation was known targeting at many of Chin refugees dwelling at the area.

In an interview with VOCR team, he mentioned that he was sent to Lengkeng Camp and got locked-up there for 14 days, although he is holder of UNHCR's card. Then he was sent again to Sebang court to hear the final determination of the judge which is especially designed to sentence for refugees.

As soon as the sentence was finally made, he was referred back to Kajang detention center definitely where he got caned three times. His detention number was quoted as 35587 which was given for each detainee. Intensively questioned if the base accusation of being sentenced to be whipped for three times, he appears that he doesn't understand the reason of the base at all.

Arresting on the street in public and extortion at the corner of roadside or buildings are typically the two major problems Chin refugee possesses in every single day (which) stir up causing the often-occurrence of anxiety and fear in the way of the less fortunate stranding in Malaysia.

by Simon

Caning Exercises in Detention Center

Kuala Lumpur: 18 October, it was reported that Mang Suan Khai, a recognized refugee (ref: 354-09C7809) from Chin State was arrested on the way to Church on Sunday 08, August, 2009 at the Bus Station of Kuala Lumpur, called Parsasini.

He appeared to happen to meet the Sunday operation of police and Rela at that place while he was going to his usual worship center. Late in that evening, he was directly sent to Saminyih detention center where he faced unreasonable sentence in that court.
 

Afterward, he was reportedly sent back to Kajang detention camp on 14 Oct, 2009 and was caned once there on the unknowable accusation of the police, quoted as saying to VOCR team, adding that he was awfully amazed at the charge he was given.

Later, he was moved again to Lang Keng Camp. Fortunately, he was met by OPI team of UNHCR and had an interview for couple of minutes that assured that he along with his inmates was under the consideration of UNHCR. On that day, he was reportedly registered and got the serial number of UNHCR as stated above.

In an interview, he continued to mention that there were more than five inmates whose native are Hakha Chins who appeared to have faced the same caning in Kajang detention camp. Sadly, they got whipped much more than I was.
 

However, what he reiterated during the interview is that he is not so much sure if they have been already released or not from the said camp because of being moved to Lang Keng Camp—it was not so long from his trial of caning.

Asked if he needs to have post-counseling on his courses of trial experienced in detention center, he is appeared to try his best to manage to cope with the fear of arrest, frustration and ill-treatment.

So far, the caning exercised over recognised refugees in detention camps had been effectively stopped since 2008 according to the confirmed report. But this report is a newly exertion that many of Chin refugees have been experiencing.

by Simon

Police Stop Refugees to Obtain Money

Kuala Lumpur: 21 Sept, 2010: Two Chin refugee men were stopped by the police at Mid Velley KTM station while returning home from funeral service at late evening on 21^st of September, 2010. The incident was occurred between 7-8 pm and the two lads were handcuffed and beaten up as they don't have legal documents to show the police.

Two arrested, namely Zaw King and Phun Duh were taken off to the roadside and searched their body. Beside, both were investigated for no reasons and several questions being asked while searching their body at a darken place. The police found out only RM-25 on their hands and accused them of being hiding the rest of their money in their private parts thought they have no more exceeding.  

According to anonymous lady, a sister of one of the victim said during the phone call that her younger brother Zaw King's mobile phone which is worth up to RM- 600 was confiscated beside his money, adding that her brother was punched on his stomach as he claimed the police to return his mobile phone.  

"The police intentionally approached us and asking to show our passport. They immediately handcuffed as we have nothing but the UNHCR card and taken us off to the roadside and forcing us to take out all our belongings. I was slapped twice as they don't find the money inside my pocket, saying that you are under arrest and would be sent off to jail unless you have the money  for ransom" another arrested Mr. Phun said.  

After almost an hour stopping at the roadside, the two Chin lads were eventually released but the police didn't return all their belongings.

The surveillance showed that extortion by police and robbers is common complained made by the refugees every day since 2008 onward. Many of recognized refugees have lost their jobs and missed out their appointment for further interview in the UNHCR office due to mobile phones confiscation by the police and robbers. This provocative and unduly extortion and robberies have affected and interrupted to speed up numbers of refugee status especially when they missed out interview with the UNHCR office for resettlement program. 

by Salai C C

A Chin Refugee Woman Raped in Klang

Kuala Lumpur: 5th October, 2010: It was reportedly revealed that a Chin woman, who is a recognized refugee of UNHCR (Ref:791-10C3214) in Malaysia was raped by a security guard whose nationality is said ‘Indian-Malaysian’. The P.O.C with her husband are stranding in Shah Alam in Klang, Kuala Lumpur.  

It was later learnt that the incident took place in her apartment while she was on the way back home from her working place. It was said that the security guard followed her room and asked of them IC (Identity Card) pretending as if a police. Minutes later, he took her to the security toilet and raped her there after leaving her husband beaten and locked up in the room as a result. “I know I am of three month pregnancy now” said in an interview on the phone with her who honestly request for anonymity. 

The Chin community regards it as a sham and harsh act on woman. Stood in awkward-position, they don’t have any ideas to deal with this very bitter affair by their own limitations. Apart from lodging a report to the police station, the community is beyond an effort for this heart-torn problem. Instead of claiming to the Chin community body, they themselves straight away made a report to UNHCR in details since knowing nothing to do more, which is the right choice.

Truth, the Chin community is deeply concerned of her post trauma-related consequences that might possible disturb carrying the baby in womb. The great hope that the community can cling on is that UNHCR would fully support in taking care of her in terms of the basic needs to recover from her tough depression and feeling anxiety on this course. 

The incident apparently indicates that every single female of refugee can be a victim of any gangster anytime preying upon the poor refugee miserably stranding in Malaysia. 

Consequently, rapes and killings on Chin refugee have been encountered not this the first time. Ever once, it’s been a very popular hot-talked issue internationally in matters of six year old girl, who was to resettle the next day to America along with her family, was chopped apart in 2006. Two days later, the body chopped apart was found in the near-by rubbish bin by the rubbish-collecting Chinese fellow.

Detailed information of hot-issue on the repeated occurrences over rape, car-accident, extortion, kidnapping and other cases is being filed as always in the information department. 

by Simon