Physically Abused: Further Warning on Chins and Karens

Kuala Lumpur 13 Jan (VOCR): Recently, among 14 of ethnic Chins released from Langkap camp on 28/12/2010 on the recognition with the office of UNHCR after couples of months being detained, the VOCR team could only meet two of them, namely—John Niang from Mindat and Winston Lian from Hakha with the help of one of Mindat interpreters in UNHCR office in Malaysia.

John Niang, who was arrested on 10 June, 2010 in Ipoh in the raids of Immigration, was locked up for 14 days in Langkap and later sent to Tapah detention center and detained there for 3 months and half, then shifted back again to Langkap following appearing in Langkap court for making decision for period of imprisonment.

Winston Lian was arrested on 03 May, 2010 in Serimanjung,  Perak State while waiting for his Chinese boss pickup in the cafe shop, although he is the holder of UNHCR's card, a recognised refugee by the office of UNHCR. Moments later, despite being found nothing in the drug test in police station, the authority personnel overturned the base on a charge of his illegal entry into the country and locked up for 20 days in Serimanjung police station. He was then sent to Taiping detention center where he was detained for more than 3 months before another 3 months in Langkap camp. On 28 December, 2010, it was appeared that they were met by OPI team of UNHCR in Langkap and all of Chin detainees in Block E1 and E2 released.

It is also learnt that Ronald Sung Thang from Falam, Naing Kee and Khui Shing Thang both from Mindat still remain detained in Block D1 of Langkap camp. According to John Naing, the reason why they were not included in our group could be a fact that they were just sent to us recently, adding that among 14 of them 9 are holders of Alliance of Chin Refugee and Chin Refugee Committee' card but the rest are all holder of UNHCR's recognition card.

On release, Vung Khan Pum was known, soon after, hospitalized for 4 days with tumor-caught disease in Kuala lumpur General Hospital on 03 and discharged from hospital on 07 January. In an attempt to contact with his relatives, it was learnt that he is still unable to speak and take a walk himself but to lie on the bed.

Amid squalid living condition in detention centers and camps, some of them have been hurt physically. When contacted the local doctor who voluntarily help refugees regardless of the possible consequences after a relatively period of time in detention center and camp where lack of medical care and cleanliness regarding Vung Khan Pum, she told VOCR that there could be several factors of developing tumors, such as; environmental, behavioral risks and foods while a few percentages are only of inherited-cause.

While life in Langkap camp, three of them (Chins) were physically abused, hit and beaten up by the Burmese and Rohinyas detainees. Whether there is untold story behind the screen, asked one of the victims faced a 'real risk' of being attacked, it was said that they heard every day people of Burmese and Rohinyas, who were also inmates in the same cell, talking about murdering of ethnic Chins and Karens.

Myo Min Aung, who was, according to victims, claimed himself as the former government high school teacher in Myanmar, was said the leader in the campaign that staggered protests in the camp—malcontently stirring up slogan to cultivate hatred towards ethnic people, definitely of Chins and Karens. In addition, Maung Win, Nyi Tan, Joe, Ko Soe, who have been in the camp for very long time and of officially appointed detention workers, are the ones who mostly mistreated ethnic people of Myanmar even though they all are from the same country and military-ruled government.

Protection and intervention from the part of police are absent to be practiced for the victims. The said Burmese are really hobnobbing with police beyond the border, said one of the released Chins in a telephone interview.  

Obviously, some of the Burmese detainees did drug business inside in conjunction with few of the police, quoted the victims who claimed that he saw they were doing it as saying.  In taking a careful look on Myanmar refugee issues, the ethnic people who are minority in the mainland are still being harmed and ill-treated even in the foreign soil. 

John Naing, who was met in person, is seemed a very good person is highly concerned over the remnant of Chin detainees there related to what was happened ahead to them.

Report on Payment Mistreats

Kuala Lumpur 04 Jan (VOCR): A look at issues related to refugees such as job opportunity for survivals and rights for refugees in terms of arrest, incarcerating, caning conduct in detention centres and abuses in a way range of extortion and stopping in public views like a theft and payment mistreatment, leaves a great wonder that there is a very little progress on protecting such cases until present, although the local media reports indicate that there is a table-talk in the government meeting.

Of all races and different religion backgrounds, more than half of the population is fervently seeking the means of their survival in plenty ways by their own as the survival becomes most challenging and the greatest important thing of all for a living. 

Against seven of Chin refugee workers worked in Sweseng Sdn Bhd, there is a clear ongoing payment mistreatment exercises according to what was reported to VOCR. That was the down-payment for half month of last October and December totaled Rm- 4,200 worth as US$1,300 in exchange was abused at all. The boss known as Aa Khen who is a sub-contractor in the said company mistreated them, said Than Mang aged 48 and Peter Van Bawi Ceu, 31 who are reached for contact among others: Hme Cung, Dar Uk, Tluang Heih, Biak Hnin and Khua Lian Thang, the only holder of community card. 

Aside from efforts to report to the office of UNHCR, there is absolutely nothing capability refugee community body can do in a bid to safeguard our people whenever they have seriously big problems as stated above. Most of the people no choices have to rely on the support of their respective community office.

By Simon