The 63rd Chin National Day Celebration & Decennial Anniversary of Chin Refugee Day in Malaysia

Photo- VOCR

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR): 22 Feb, 2011, Chin national day that falls on the 20^th February is remarked as the very significant and historic for the people of Chin as all of us across the globe commemorated the Day every yearly in each of our respective living and stranding by a variety of games and a great kind of celebration exercise. The sport games this year in Malaysia included football, volleyball, sepak takraw (most popular in Asian region) and other competitions and traditional wrestling, which is a very much-expected performance ahead, were held from 16 January to 19 Feb in Imbi playground, Imbi, Kuala Lampur. 

Back to history, the National Day on which the freedom and self-determination was ever momentously achieved by a mass conference in Falam, Chin State on February 20, 1948 after the Union of Burma won "Independence" from British government. Until present, for Chins, the day always newly brings a conception of freedom and democracy ever achieved from the mainland government in our mind in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. It is honestly the greatest day for Chins in history. 

The games, starting in advance from January 16 as a part of commemorating the 63^rd National Day and the 10^th Anniversary of Chin Refugee Day in Malaysia—the great Two days for Chins in Malaysia and mainly organized by sport committee under the administration of CRC, were wrapped up on Feb 19 then followed by the National Day and decennial anniversary of Chin Refugee Day celebration on 20^th Feb in Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

It was truly unique that all representing leaders from tribal-based communities run under the ACR and CRC came into a profound nationalism and united spirit and throwing their best effort for the possibility of the splendid event of our National Day as well as the day that accepts Chins as refugee officially by the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR). Truth, Chins seeking refuge under the protection of UNHCR in Malaysia are not the economic migrant but the ones fleeing the country to escape from the brutal human rights violation, forced labor, portering, recruitment for army and the cause of religious repression intentionally committed by the inhumane military regime.

In the program on 20^th Feb, it was seen that several representatives of NGOs; ACTS (A Call To Serve), SUARAM (Human Right Watchdog on Malay Government), TANATAHNEGA (An Organization for Health and other services supporting for human trafficking victims and refugees as well) and UNHCR gingerly shared their short speeches towards the Chin society. Other statements also were read. Mr. Salai Bawi Lian Mang, director Chin Human Right Organization and the one who knocked the door of the office of UNHCR in Malaysia for Chins was given special chance for special speech—addressing what has been faced in the past years and current issues and need for the unity in the future. 

Meanwhile, it was believed that every attendee in the joint celebration in Chinese Assembly hall best enjoyed all performances lining up for the whole day long, including performances, such as, traditional dances, cultural fashion show and music entertainment by various singers from communities.  

Although the most-expected event of national day and 10^th anniversary of being refugee in Malaysia are held in 20^th Feb, the loss of Pa Mau U, 13 yrs, from Ngaiphaite village, Thantlang Township, Chin state, during the games in 19^th Feb was saluted by a silence for one minute and prayer for the rest of his family while the first section program were being held. 



By Simon

Two Chin Refugees Face Sexual Harassment Trail

Ampang (VOCR): 19 Feb, 2011, Two Chin refugees were arrested at their apartment on late evening of 24 Oct, 2010 following an inappropriate accusation report made by the local family on exploiting sexual harassment to their daughter are said to have been facing the trail in Kajang district court in Selangor state, Malaysia. 

The two arrestees are identified as Mr. Khar Cem, 17 and Uk Ceu both a recognised refugee from Chin state of Burma.

Initially, the entire neighborhoods (of Chin families) were shocked and watching the arrest as the reason why the two lads get arrested was unclear. But the duo, soon after, informed their family members that they are arrested for exploiting sexual harassment on a local female who lives at the same dilapidated apartment. 

The family members and community leaders were immediately rushed in an attempt to intervene in police station but the mission was failed as the duo have to remain at least 14 days at the lock-up to further facilitate the investigation. 

The way the incident happened was, the two guys just went down from their apartment and met a local girl underage in the staircase of the same apartment at 4^th floor at about 4:00 p.m. It was said that they were just simply encountered as normal like everyone does in every single day in every place. 

On contrary, the police filed, according to the confirmed source, the report made by the girl’s parents between 4 and 5 p.m claiming that the duo were attempted to rape their daughter in the staircase of the building and requested [the police] to take an "appropriate action immediately.

However, the father of one of arrestee denied the indictment on his son and friend and saying "this is imbroglio and unfair accusation and just to deliberately harm our son and his friend. The by-passers who witnessed the incident told us that the duo neither touched her body nor walked past very close by her. 

However, she told her parents in different way in crying that the two refugee men were attempted to rape her while meeting at the bend of the staircase. “My son alongside his friend also politely made an apology after the infuriated female screwing at them “Bawdaw” meaning “idiot”, the father added. 

Less identified but obvious thing what was learnt so far was the local lawyer hired by refugee family and an interpreter fortunately sent by UNHCR office attended in the hearing in the court. Most surprisingly, none of any illumination on the case wasn’t made as the prosecutor seems uncertain of what to do during the trial and obviously went off from the court while the session going on.

The associate of one of the victim’s father (who spoke to the authority) in the court said that the report given to the police has already been withdrawn by the local family, though. But he suggested that the duo, perhaps, may face foreign charge unless the UNHCR office could make immediate intervention as early as possible. 

The duo have been appeared in court three times, respectively on 21^st of November and 14^th of December, last year and an unknown date of January of this year but the judge does not rule out any sentence yet and schedule for next appearance in court until present.

By Salai CC

Families Planned to move

The would-be dismantled apartment in Jalan Imbi (Photo- VOCR)

 

Imbi (VOCR):12 Feb, dozens of families have been told in the past few months to move to other respective places as the mother company known as 1Malaysia Development Enterprise planning to be initiating the project in the near future at where hundreds of recognised refugees reside.

The project, since earlier in 2001, has been home for Chin refugees as is the low-cost apartment and very old as well. Over few weeks, the officials in the company in collaboration with several staffs of UNHCR and CRC staff appeared to visit those residents in the apartments— critically scrutinizing the living condition of refugees on which they could better find ways to help them partly in financial aid in a bid to help shift from the apartment.

People in the apartment told the VOCR that they highly fear loss of deposit primarily paid to the owners. Nonetheless, it is learnt that those who take money are not the actual owners but the in-between brokers who raise the bill on water and electric often and often times.

The said company will by some means provide compensation up to Rm- 800 per family, quoted one of the interpreters helping company officials and UNHCR staff as saying, added that there is no a timeframe planned for their move but the residents will be able to have adequate time to find apartments themselves.

The lesson well learnt after a meeting with officials from the company is that the brokers have been long taking a wide advantage over refugees in ways that they always increase the bills months after months. And company officials along side UNHCR staff seem cognisant of the misconduct, malfeasance exercised towards the poor refugees stranding in the unwelcome transit-country with uncertainty. 

By Simon

Extortion's Hiccup

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR): 11 Feb, unlike before, many of police patrolling throughout the roads and streets of Kuala Lumpur both in the morning and evening over couple of months ago and checking mostly refugees who commute for job. To date, dozens of people have been reportedly extorted of their belongings, such as money, hand phones and UNHCR's card.

On 10 February, Ha Hung Thang, one of IRC (International Rescue Committee) interpreters from Kanpalet was stopped in public and extorted of Rm-100 money in hands while on the way back home from UNHCR office. According to the victim, he encountered about ten of police awaiting to check people (less fortunate) like him on the road—stopped him in sight of people and started questioning him as if a criminal whether I have a job. Humbly explained them his status (how a refugee fled the country in fear) and situation about his family, he thought they would be kindhearted over him but extorting even the small amount of his daily basis, instead.

It was learnt later that he was helped reported to OPI (Outreach Protection Individuals) department in UNHCR office by the officer in charge in his working department. However, it is impossible for refugees in Malaysia that it can never return what has been lost.

No matter what happens, the lately condition of safety for refugee is likely another shift from common happenings to worse, although the recognition card of UNHCR provides the nail-biting security in terms of arrest and confinement in jail for a period of time.

Burman-made Fake Card Causes Chin refugee with Severe Consequence

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR): 01 Feb, 2011, over the past few years, there has been rumor about the fake card made by the Burmans and scattering its news to refugee community. In short, the reason that was kept unvoiced was that there is no such adequate evidence of consequences faced on this particular matter. 

To be true, every single of recognised refugee in Malaysian is not entitled to escaping the arrest and incarceration of police, rela and immigration as is the country not a signatory one in the 1951 United Nations Convention. However, the government, to some extent, has so far little cooperativeness with the office of UNHCR and so most of detainees are able to be released until present by UNHCR.  

A week ago, one of outreach and protection volunteers in ACR (Alliance of Chin Refugee) was contacted by the immigration authority with regard to the arrest of five of Chin refugees at their workplace. It was later learnt, when thoroughly examined their status in the police station, that among them, three are recognised ones with UNHCR's card, one is only holder of ACR's card and another one is with a replica card of UNHCR. They were recruited to job by ACR and CRC. 

Nam Kim Khua from Tedim Township of Chin state, on account of holding the fake card, is vastly fined for Rm-10,000 is equal to US$ 3,400 which is to be paid within 14 days. Failure to pay in due time, certainly he must be in position of facing a further serious consequence being guilty of carrying the bogus according to the government law following the upcoming trial he will go through in the court. 

Sources from ACR say that attempt to rescue him is out of the solvable thing that UNHCR can deal with, said the ACR volunteer, as was told so in UNHCR office when in attempt to report to OPI department in UNHCR office concerning those arrested with the immigration official note of Rm-10,000 fine. Even worse, fine given upon Nam Kim Khua also directly impinges on Than Khan Tuan from the same Township who is only ACR's card holder, for the immigration authority compromised the case into one as soon as the office of UNHCR confirmed Nam Kim Khua's card is not the real one, though the fact that it is really different, continued the volunteer. 

For years, the Burmans, (plain Burmese) not the ethnic people have been making this kind of dirty business in a wide range in George Town, Penang, which is about 6 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and many of the victims claimed they paid Rm-500 for the fake card with a hope that it could give them some detente for their security. Even so, it was appeared that they seemed aware of its dangerous consequences and can be confined in detention center if caught in hand with the illegal card, quoted many of Rohinyas those were met by one of VOCR team in Penang as saying.

Furthermore, some of Burmese guy, a member of BRO (Burmese Refugee Organization), who request for anonymity also told the VOCR that the fake card is famed enough, esp, in the illegal migrant and refugee world and the brokers have even greater market in Kuala Lumpur city for now and it is being operated in Kota Raya, well-known city center for bus commuters. 

However, it was said that the running center for making the card is, according to the victim, often times flexibly shifted and there is no permanent place for this kind of dirty business and he was, too, one of their victims successfully persuaded to do so.

On this controversial issue, the administration of UNHCR is clearly failed to furthering investigation into the matter in collaboration with the authority. 

Regardless of the rescue of the fined, there is none of any organization and community that can help him out of this pitfall but the only hope he can hold in his breast is the miraculous deed of his Chinese boss. 

Among dozens of incidents, lopsided business over refugee truly indicates on how the mainland Burmese is hunting down the ethnic people as a prey and storming huge problems to refugees in such a way that they sell drugs to ethnic refugees and running small alcohol bars among refugee community.