Kuala
Lumpur (VOCR) 07 April, 2012: Taking a few assessments at Chin refugee center,
The VOCR obtains an up-to-date report on dozens of Chin refugees and asylum
seekers currently being detained in immigration depots.
Also,
it was learnt that even the minors who are under ten in age are included among
the detainees’ list that the Chin community received originally provided by the
immigration authority while recently visiting several immigration depots.
All
Chin asylum seeker detainees are known crossing the border in order to rejoin
family members who had previously fled the country due to the cruel persecution
and human rights violation systematically committed by the Burmese soldiers.
Most
of detainees, from southern part of Chin state where persecution is known
fiercest, were arrested last month at Bukit Kayuhitem checkpoint in Alor Setar
city in Kedah state, soon after their successful entry into the country
through the lead of the human traffickers.
The
VOCR is informed that couple of family with nine children is separately
detained in Pekan Nanas immigration depot in Kedah state while the rest of
their fellow are still remained held in Alor Setar jail. And many are said to
be awaiting court decision which can be made in the very near future.
Calculating
the current numbers since last December, it is believed that at least more than
hundreds of Chin refugees are reportedly incarcerated in several detention
centers across the region, quoted also NOGs reports as saying.
Some
of young people, according to the Chin community interviewed by The VOCR, who
have been recognized as refugees at the depots are widely suffering from mental
disorder problem due to the detention pressure and lack of medical access.
In
matters of detention pressure which rapidly causes an increasing mental health
issues, detainees at Lenggeng camp in Nageri Sembilan state and Semenyih camp
in Selangor have been reported atop as the worst. Even if they are holders of
UNHCR document which means recognised refugees, the processing for intervention
release is taking a lengthy period of time.
When
asked the doctor, who is allowed to have detention access, regarding the mental
issues among refugee detainees, the doctor stated that many feel hopeless on
the ground that what is going on every day in detention camps and centers
pushes them to instill a sense of hopelessness even though little are known
strong enough and can cope with their plight.
In
addition, the matter between whether or not refugees and asylum seekers should
be registered in the government biometric registration system in which many are
reportedly revealed deported back to their home country otherwise causes an
extensively widespread confusion and fear among refugee community on what
should be done.
The
next
round of raids planned by the government after the government hails
today no longer extension on the biometric registration will surely
spell a greater
aspect of anxiety for all refugees living in Malaysia.