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| 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.
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| 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
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