Escaped but Cruelly Tortured

By Simon

The two victims in an interview (Photo- VOCR)

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 15 Sept: Every single of refugee has to unceasingly struggle for their survivals as there is no provision and need to look for jobs in search of a better life. But for some, that search will end in tragedy as they fall victim to organised crime gangs.  

Two of recognised Chin refugees was kidnapped last week by a special organised gang group in Kota Raya, which is a well-known location centre for commuters in Kuala Lumpur and so many times it is likely impossible to avoid crossing that area, as they were on their way to get to Seremban bound bus station for work, another city located in Negeri Sembilan State, eastern part of Kuala Lumpur. 

The victims, Tawk Iang, 31 and Men Doi, 26, both of them from Khampat, Tamu Tsp, Sagaing Division, Burma, were wandering for a while in the area of Kota Raya; they didn't know how to get to the terminal for Seremban. On the brink of eyes' wink, one man approaching them and acting as if he also looked for the same terminal, said Tawk Iang, who can speak little of the Malay language, adding that he would get a taxi for us and sent us to the station and at the very moment the taxi came. They thought he was a good man for them. 

However, the taxi driver turned around and got back to where they met and the man, who arranged taxi for the victims, suddenly got in the taxi and carried off them to the alleged gang center where they saw dozens of other gang members drinking alcohol and playing cards. 

Both of the victims told The VOCR that one of the leaders came to them and started asking of the telephone numbers they know in purposes of asking hostage money in exchange of our freedom. Despite our response of no knowledge on their demand, they finally found out a piece of paper written our friends' numbers in the bottom of my friend's [Men Doi] bag, which caused their attack against us doubly worse. 

We were forced to kneel down and contacting the numbers we know and inhumanely beating us with weapons, believed to be equipments from the car and a thick wood stick, while having conversation with our friends on the phone in order to make our friends hear our sufferings. From time to time, they changed the price demanded, RM-1,000 to 5,000 for our release.

Slapping, kicking and beating with weapons involved in a kind of the alleged gang's torture.  

Incapable of hearing convincible messages from our friends and relatives, the two victims were prepared to be brought down to other locations. Threatened with violence if failed to pay the ransom money for our freedom, the victims decided to run risks—getting out of taxi even though the taxi was firmly locked.  

It was an epic of heroic action that the concerted effort made them able to escape from the hands of the gangs as there was intense fight in taxi between the victims and the taxi driver and the guard seated at the front—knowing they would get hit back if they made a move to get out of taxi. Eventually, their fight was amazingly successful that they could jump out, although the taxi was on the high speed in the highway having no fear of loosing their property, RM-60 and two of their bags rather than to die in the hands of gangs.

Nobody gave a hand in the highway in their 15-minute long asking for help. And they continued to run and finally found the restaurant and receiving a help from one man—arranging taxi to the police station for making a report. 

The police station in Wangsa Maju referred them to the GHKL, General Hospital Kuala Lumpur for dressing and medical treatment and further investigation would be acted in Pudu police station as the incident occurred under the control of  the district area of Pudu police station.

It was learnt that they were helped to get a new UNHCR card with the help of CRC amid new policy in UNHCR has been effectively exercised not to issue new card for those who lost the card, and receiving an enormous support from CRC and their relative members. The advocate Chin refugee community is ready to bring them to clinic or hospital if the victims are in need for farther medical access as the fact that psychological assessment could successfully lead the hard-hit victims to cope with their dire experience after the post-aftermath.