Fire Victims of Chin Refugee Families In Need of Aids

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) on 22^nd Dec: Four of Chin refugee families including dozens of Burmese migrant and Bangladeshi workers fled in terror in the early morning fire which wrecked a block of flats in the area of packed population of Chin refugees currently living in Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur on 19^th December, 2011. The two hour-long fire cost a great loss for dozen of families, mostly their possessions were burnt down.

Fire victim: One of Chin refugee families taken shot at CDAC office

The fire is believed to be started around 7:00 a.m from building number, 15C which is entirely occupied by the Burmese migrant workers, possibly, due to the indisciplinable and extreme use of electricity.  Despite the fact that the fire, as the witnesses prompt, was learnt slowly surged through, the gradual velocity of fire department personnel exponentially caused a double damage as most of the victims’ goods and its contents destroyed—leaving lots of possessions from other nationals ruined including four of Chin refugee families, victims of fire, who were temporarily sheltered in CDAC (Chin Disciplinary Action Committee) office and the respective community later is determined to taking care of them for the time being.

Fire victim: One of Chin refugee families taken shot in CRC office

On the spot day, the fire victim families were provided small amount of financial support collected from the nearest Chin fellows.

The flame was able to be put an end about 10:15 a.m in the morning with the daring attempts of fire crew.

Fire victims: One of Chin refugee families taken photo at CRC office

So strong to be extinguished easily though the flame was, CRC (Chin Refugee Committee) office was somewhat affected. “Despite such tragedy, it was absolutely the grace of God that He saves us from this burning blaze which we all thought will swoop our office within minutes but could successfully be put out at a time when the flame approaching our roof,” said coordinator of CRC, Heny Tin Maung Shwe. He added that sparing CRC office was indeed a great miracle that we saw in our own eyes—meaning God really loves Chins and makes CRC safe from harm.

Pile of documents and other materials gathered from CRC and CSO (Chin Student Organization)

All staffs were seen too busy the whole day long—rushing taking all documents down while the flame strongly on blaze and cleansing the office and keeping the documents back in order with the gracious helping hands from other Chin fellows who volunteered for this calamity we come across.

Pile of possessions of Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrant workers at the scene.   

Due to the fire, they are to move to other places or might perhaps be facing serious action

     taken against them by the authority. And the investigation on the cause is underway. 

Meanwhile, all victims of Chin families are learnt to have been brought to the office of UNHCR for further possible supports. However, it is not certain that their needs can be met for the fact that it is not uncommon to see the office of UNHCR in Malaysia is not able to wholly take care of the sick, disable and immediate victims of all kinds of abuse and violations until recently.  

For the victims, donations individually, in group or organization can be made via CRC office at the address below:

Chin Refugee Committee

11C, Jalan Koo Teik Ee

Off Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Phones : 03-2144 7271, 03-2110 0876

Fax      : 03-2141 7271

Email   : crcmalaysia2011@yahoo.com

Reporting by Simon

Refugees Care Malaysia: Peace Project On the Go

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 03 Dec: Tens of thousands of refugees from Myanmar, also known as Burma, stranded in Malaysia, are regarded as nothing but rubbish and problem causers by the government, according to various NGO sources. To be honest, a handful of youth who cannot perceive their future as positive and bright have in fact turned to alcoholic drinking in an attempt to ease their current problems, as they were in the habit of doing in the motherland.  

In light of complaints from the locals, in the Chin community various leaders of established fellowships are truly harmonious in an effort to work for projects that can turn the locals’ attitudes towards refugees in reverse. 

The CDAC (Chin Disciplinary Action Committee) is the lead team in the first wave of implementing the care project. It has been several months since the “Peace Project” set up by CDAC has begun to be implemented in areas where members of CDAC are stationed. The aim of the project is the clean-up of local areas and washing the buildings occupied by refugees. “The locals view this as a very good activity, as seen by their active support, and among the authorities as well,” said Lal Siam Mawi, currently chairman of CDAC.

Although members of CDAC are stationed in 24 locations, the areas for this Peace project are targeted in Selangor state. The areas are Imbi, Cheras Maluri, Cheras Alam Jaya, Ampang, Pandah Indah, Sungai Besi, Lokyew and Jalan Ipoh—the locations mainly occupied by Chin refugees. 

The cleansing program is presented as a “must-do” policy, twice a month in each area. This presentation empowers the program to continue with regularity. 

Leaders from Chin communities including Mr. Lal Siam Mawi clearly state that we are not problem causers, but we come carrying with us the problems obtained in our home country. We are, however, always willing to be at peace with the locals.

Although there is a great diversity of challenges, leaders of the Chin are of the same spirit in caring about what the locals care about and highly committed to deterring unruly behavior and violations occasionally committed by drunken Chin youth. There is a serious concern that the disturbances caused by drunken Chin youth could very well create additional negative consequences for the entire Malaysian refugee population.

The project is being funded by Social Protect Funds (SPF) which is under the umbrella of UNHCR office. The UNHCR office is closely cooperating with SPF on implementing the project. Provided that it succeeds in one area, it will be extended to all areas where Chin are currently living.

The Immigration Crackdown Begins

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 21 Nov: The immigration operation over refugees and asylum seekers has been arresting and detaining recognized refugees in a wide sweep across Malaysia. According to reports received from Chin community, the areas that have recently been concentrated on are, Seremban City, Negeri Sembilan State, the eastern part of Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh City, Kedah State, the northern part of Kuala Lumpur and Kepong, the suburban area of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor State.

In the ten total arrests that VOCR could get the details of, six Chin refugees were nabbed in Seremban City and all of them were directly sent to Lenggeng immigration detention center. Among six arrestees, including one woman, only two are registered refugees with the office of UNHCR. Although there is hope for their release soon, the rest will be facing indefinite detention and need the immediate intervention of UNHCR. A man who is still unregistered and was arrested in Ipoh city is now being detained in Lengkap immigration detention center.

Three people, including one woman, captured in Kepong, the suburban area of Kuala Lumpur are currently being detained in Seri Hatamas Jalan Duta Desa Immigration complex lockup. They will be in court in a few days and the authorities will call on the UNHCR office in an attempt to check whether they are of genuine refugees.

The immigration authority in the raids obviously question people arrested whether or not they did fingerprinting in 6p programme in the past few months. Of all arrestees, they are just yet to be done with it in the near future. The programme is slated to start in early of 2012 but it is prompted for the time being that many people both recognised refugee and asylum seeker will possibly be swept over as the crackdown is already commenced.

One of the community volunteers from the Chin Refugee Committee in Kuala Lumpur believes it is certain that they will sooner or later be sent to a detention center and perhaps face months of detention.

“By learning the areas targeted,” he added, “the immigration authorities start raiding restaurants which they believe are dominated by Myanmar refugees and migrant workers.”  

With the immigration crackdown beginning, the Chin community fears for the displacement of thousands of family members still waiting in queue for registration from the office of the UNHCR. 

Meanwhile, registration with the UNHCR office based on family relationships for the purposes of family reunification continues to move incredibly slow, a situation creating both fear and panic among thousands of refugees in Malaysia.

Reporting by Simon

Chin Asylum-Seeker Murdered at the Hands of Burmese National

Source: googlemap

Cameroon Highlands (VOCR) 18 Nov: An asylum seeker of the Chin State named Geik Law Kha was severely beaten up in a fight that occurred at last Wednesday’s night in Batu 49 camp, where hundreds of Chin refugees live. Geik Law Kha was beaten by a Burmese migrant worker with a passport, known as Tin Lin, and proclaimed dead yesterday morning in Ipoh general hospital, in the Perak state. 

It was learned that he was a holder of an ACR card (means a member of Alliance of Chin Refugee) and from Mindat Township, Chin state.

The cause of the incident that took place last night remains a mystery.

The murderer was arrested after a search effort lasting the whole night, said Billy Tong Hmung, coordinator of Chin Highland Community recently set up with the support of Social Protect Funds (SPF) which is under the UNHCR office.

In an interview with the VOCR, the community leader added that Tin Lin, the murderer, is currently under an intensive investigation of authorities in the Cameroon Highlands police force. The case is being kept confidential and has yet to be revealed to us. However, it was believed that Tin Lin could be incarcerated for up to 10 years in depots.

Recently, the community in Cameroon Highlands is highly concerned that there might possibly bring about the retaliation fight from our fellow Chins, said one of the community leaders.

Asked how many Burmese migrant workers work in the area, CHC's leaders estimate that there are around 30.

For the record, more than 1,500 Chins, both recognized refugees and asylum seekers, are living in Cameroon Highlands, seen as the sole producer of vegetables and fruits for the mainland, Malaysia and Singapore. Most of the people work in vegetable farms and are paid less than RM-25 a day, which is only equivalent to $8.

To date, refugees and asylum seekers working in Cameroon Highlands have been hiding in the jungle every night, for fear of the unceasing raids monitored by the authorities.

Apparently, this is not an uncommon situation facing Chin refugees and asylum seekers. Murder at the hands of Burmese nationals occurs with alarming frequency. In Malaysia, since 2005, the figure of Chins murdered at the hands of Burmese migrant workers is believed to total at more than a dozen in number, according to one community leader in Kuala Lumpur.

Reporting by Simon

Biometric Registration System Introduced for Refugees in 2012: Group of NGOs Worry over the Upcoming Crackdown

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 06 Nov: In addressing the situation of refugees anywhere in the world, it is impossible to ignore the political conditions of the host country. The entire population of registered refugees in Malaysia will thus be introduced to a new biometric registration system in early of 2012. The new system will replace the previous impromptu scanning system, according to Mr. Alan Vernon, who spoke during the monthly refugee community meeting with UNHCR in the Chinese Assembly hall on November 4, 2011.

ALAN VERNON, UNHCR representative in Malaysia

Mr. Alan Vernon is currently a representative of the UNHCR office in Malaysia. During the meeting, he clearly explained to refugee community leaders that the prior 6p amnesty programme was only aimed at illegal migrant workers and was not intended for refugees and asylum seekers. He added that the UNHCR office in Malaysia has been progressive in talks with the government on this 6p programme, especially in terms of changing controversial words on the registration paper, which in the earlier paper contained the phrase “Tujuan: Pulang Ke Negara Asal” (Intention: Return to Home Country). This phrase created much confusion and fear among refugees—as they held an erroneous perception that refugees and asylum seekers might possibly get deported back to their home country. 

However, it is still uncertain whether asylum seekers yet to be registered with the office of UNHCR will be involved in the forthcoming 6p registration programme in 2012, as the programme is aimed at registering refugees already recognized by the office of UNHCR. 

“For now, it is a pain-easing process, and a crystal clear solution for us brought by Mr. Alan Vernon,” reported one of Chin community leaders present in the meeting.

In response to questions raised by community leaders, however, regarding the plan of registration for new arrivals during the lengthy meeting, Vernon stated that there is no plan currently, but possibilities are being considered and proposed to the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. No further details have been made available at this time.  

It was also emphasized during the meeting that UNHCR in Malaysia is on alert to rescue those who have been detained in depots, promising that UNCHR registration is prioritized for current detainees and particularly those who are sick.  

Sample of  a letter issued in 6P registration.

According to Vernon, recognized refugees will likely be safe from the upcoming crackdown, the start of which remains unknown to the public at large. Currently, refugees in Malaysia grow ever more apprehensive of the upcoming raids, as newspaper reports and their observations of real life tend to conflict. 

At the same day, a number of NGOs, groups which work tirelessly for refugee organizations and act as liaisons with the government, conducted a training and expressing that they are greatly concerned over the upcoming raids, and for the unnecessary use of force on the refugees, said one of the lawyers in the meeting.  Lawyers from said NGOs last Thursday trained dozens of volunteers from Myanmar refugee organizations, especially on techniques for coping with problems such as extortion among the police and other government authorized personnel.

Sadly, many Chin communities were financially affected during the week-long 6p registration programme in Putrajaya, the political capital city of Malaysia, and transportation was provided by the community. During the registration in Putrajaya immigration office, thousands were done registering within the week. Weeks later, the UNHCR requested that copies of registration papers be submitted back to the UNHCR office throughout communities.

However, no compensation was made or offered by UNHCR office despite the loss of a huge amount of many communities’ money. “It was a total waste of our money—gaining only our perspiration and loss of energy,” said one of Chin community leaders who requested to remain anonymous. He added that the way the UNHCR took action against us in that situation was very negative and wrong; “It is a small kind of discrimination.”

Written by Simon and editing by Natalie Reagan

A Milestone Gathering: Malaysia Chin Christian Youths Conference

 

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 28 Oct: Amidst high security risks from recent public gatherings of anti-christian groups, the much-awaited annual conference of MCCF (Malaysia Chin Christian Youths) was successfully exercised Wednesday  in Zophei Christian Fellowship Center. The Center is being rented by Chinese Assembly of God, Jln Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.

It was the fourth year the conference has been held since its inception in 2008 with per annum election conducted at the end of one term. Remarkably, it was also the first event for Chin youths living in Malaysia—a landmark gathering from all parts of tribal-bound communities. This event serves to help ignite a united purpose among the Chin youth, in both language and politics. 

The attendees were recorded in the five hundreds in the two-story Chinese Church of Assembly of God. The whole day-long program was divided into two sections, morning and afternoon worship services that also, interestingly, included a quartet competition and debate in addition to their normal worship bulletin. The room was bursting with the noise of applause and laughter and clapping hands at the end of every performance.

A group performing on the stage. (Photo-VOCR)

Many tense issues were discussed, and ideas coming up during the debate signal that many Chin youths are eagerly recognizing CNF (Chin National Front), urging everyone to see CNF as our revolutionaries, as they are the ones who made Chins open their closed eyes regarding human rights issues.

Historically, there are forty-nine different dialects spoken in the Chin state and there has been no common language created to date. This is sole reason for our great division as a people. Chin leaders from all areas struggle to create and foster a common drive that could solve the great challenges facing our population. The diversity in our society is the leading instigator in the founding of this organization, with a purpose of fostering stronger relationships between us, so that the now-generation can create a mechanism with which to forward these interlinked objectives.

Chairman of MCCYF speaking to the devotees. (VOCR) 

Excerpts from an interview with MCCYF president, Johnny Thawng Lia;

VOCR: What is your (MCCYF) true purpose for 2011?

Johnny:  Mainly, our purpose for 2011 is set “Love Each Other” as in 1 John 4:7. In addition to that, helping each other shoulder to shoulder in terms of huge problems and great challenges facing the livelihood of our population during the indefinite wandering period in Malaysia is another aim we are trying to implement. But I am not sure how far we could go forward.

VOCR:  How would you organize this event—making such a huge gathering possible?

Johnny:  It is in fact a concerted effort that together with executive members and office barriers who are representative of their mother fellowship could make this event possible. Every decision we made in meeting was effectively passed on to their owned community and fellowship. On other hands, local media (published in Chin dialects among refugee society) also helped us in ways of making awareness for this conference.

VOCR:  For youths in Malaysia, what do you see that there needs to be done in each of their respective communities?

Johnny:  Regardless of this, there are a lot of things we could do for the good of our people. But first of all, MCCYF needs to be able to stand as an organization body so that we will be able to help the really needy ones, especially our fellows who are the true victims of drug addiction, alcoholism and going astray and leading them in the right path for their future—creating a rehabilitation center for them.

VOCR: To what degree can you engage in community activities or make significant changes?

Johnny:  Compared with past years, day after day, youths are more and more engaged in community activities, playing a vital role in the growth of our fellowship and community despite some challenges of skepticism and conservative elders. Nowadays, gender is no more problem but equally shared in any activities conducted by youths.

VOCR:  What is the significant thing you have accomplished during your tenure as MCCYF president?

Johnny:  To be honest, I remarkably made a training called “STEEL WORKER” and in it more than 50 representative leaders attended in this year. Without hiring anyone from outside, I myself run the training and in it issues of servant-hood, behavioral ethics, coping with culture-shock mostly occurred among youths are well addressed. On top of concerns, we should be aware of where we are in and needing to be watchful over the circumstances.

VOCR: What would you be your message left for youths after your terms?

Johnny:  MCCYF should be committed to making educational campaigns for our children and brothers and sisters who are hungry for higher education and doing effective awareness for drug addicts among our society. And, no matter what happens among us, we should be united and go hand in hand even though our dialects are different, and finally we will surely achieve what our fathers could not make it. Thus, it will be what we are supposed to be accomplished while we have life on earth and the will of God.

Reporting and interviewed by Simon

Refugees Fear Major Crackdown and Possible Deportation

Photo: VOCR

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 21 Oct: The planned detainees swap deal between Myanmar and Malaysia is vastly causing shockwave among the Burmese refugee communities. The oppressed ethnic minorities from the tyrannical and undemocratic Myanmar make up the largest number of refugees according to the figure of the Malaysia UNHCR office, in which out of the population Chins are apparently the highest numbers.  

The announcement came one day after the state-run newspaper The STAR announced Monday that there will be a major crackdown starting from the first week of next month, November in which it prompted that recognized and asylum seekers, to some extent, will surely be harmed, too.

According to the two Chin advocates communities, ACR (Alliance of Chin Refugee and) and CRC (Chin Refugee Committee), it is learnt that they have more than ten thousands asylum seekers who are still unregistered. Among them, dozens of people had been experiencing being forced to do immigration biometric registration, which is known as 6P programme, by their employees due to the possible fine would be punished against them by the authority before the start of major crackdown.  

Malaysia Home minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced this week after meeting with Myanmar deputy foreign minister U Maung Myint that there had been an agreement in principal regardless of the swap deal which is designed to send the unspecified number, maybe, nearly 1,000 Myanmar citizens held in 13 depots across the country and Myanmar military-dominated government in exchange will send Malaysian detainees back to the country. 

It is learnt that Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers will not be included in the swap deal implemented by the M’sia and Myanmar.

The move is believed to curb the overcrowding detainee population in the region.  

Soon after, several NGOs, Health Equity Initiatives (HEI), Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), Women’s Aid Organization (WAO), Tenaganita, SUARAM and Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI) lauded to the government that the exchange program should be halted immediately in light of a needing protection for refugees and asylum seekers according to their statement which reads “Concerns over immigration related developments that jeopardize the security of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia”, adding that they also call on the government to rectify the errors in the 6P registration process of refugees/asylum seekers and fully cooperate with UNHCR to establish a framework for the recognition of the rights of refugees. 

In a meeting between a group of representatives from local NGOs and Alan Vernon a representative of Malaysia UNHCR office including several high rank officers, Mr. Alan Vernon mentioned that they have no idea how to work on the coming major crackdown but admitting that there will be a big problem for refugees.  

Upon 6P programme, it is worrying to learn that U Maung Myint, foreign deputy minister of Myanmar requested for an extension of the registration period of 6P programme on which his intention and purpose of urging Putrajaya government to go ahead with immigration biometric system is fully doubted for refugees and asylum seekers. The 6P programme comprises the six components; registration, legalization, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation.  

On point of refugees’ view, it is doubtful that thousands of recognised refugees would possibly be included in this subtle swap deal as it is common that recognized refugees have been detained and threatened to be deported back to the country in detention centers. 

It was such a great shame that Myanmar is planning to implement such perilous deal with Malaysia whilst the Naypyidaw government is intensively fighting in great force against the ethnic minorities that include Kachin, Shan and Karen, currently. 

Meanwhile, amidst Myanmar regime is working on this controversial deal, raping, forced labor, forcibly portering and extra-judicial killings are adamantly rampant in Kachin state as is a result of their kind of systematic ethnic cleansing program purportedly exercised against the ethnic minorities based on our race, ethnicity and religion.  

Reporting by Simon

Rising Concern in Refugee Communities over the Mysterious Murdering of Chin Refugees

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 15 Oct: There growing alarm over the alleged murdering of two of Chin refugees, prompting speculation that life in Malaysia for refugees is becoming increasingly unsafe and threatening the little existing hope they have. 

Just recently, Suan Khan Mung, 37, undocumented Chin refugee and a member of the Malaysia Zo Organization, was killed last month, on September 27, 2011.  His body was found in Serdang hospital the next day following a report made to Sungai Long police station. His case was referred to Kajang police station as the incident taken place was in the control of the Kajang police station.

He was found murdered in Balakong near his workplace. The reason for his murder is remained unknown and is undergoing further investigation. Four suspects were arrested for questioning in the case, three Chin refugees and one Burmese man, co-workers of Suan Khan Mung.  

During the telephone interview with leaders of MZO (Malaysia Zo Organization), it was reiterated that the assailants were believed to be members of a local gang, not Burmese refugees. 

His body was kept in custody for fifteen days in Serdang hospital, a one and a half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. The funeral was then successfully conducted by the head of the MZO on October 13th, 2011. 

Likewise, Simon Lian Uk, only 18, from the Falam community was found stabbed to death while walking down in Jln Brunei street on his way home around 8:30p.m. near his residence in Jln Pudu. 

According to the eye- witness who requested to be anonymous, the victim encountered two strange guys, around 18 years old, at the corner of Jalan Brunei Utara Street. The witness stated that it seemed that the two guys were watching the victim and waiting to attack him. “I saw one of the guys punching him, and the victim did not react towards him at first, but the possible gang members continued punching him.  Finally, the victim fought back in self-defense.” The witness added that immediately after, another man standing beside them engaged in the attack and the victim attempted to run away. Not far away from the sight of the beating, the victim was found dead at the scene with multiple wounds.

Questioned regarding the background of the victim, David Nun Tho, coordinator of FRO (Falam Refugee Organization) revealed that he was a good young man and that he (David) had never known him to engage in the use of drugs or alcohol. He mentioned that the young man's interest in football match gambling may have caused him to be targeted for such an attack. 

Currently, his body is kept in custody for further examination and it is believed that his funeral service may occur this coming Monday if permission is issued by the authorities. 

Compared with past years, the number of deaths based on gang-related incidents is dramatically on the rise.

Written by Simon and editing by Natalie Reagan