A Minor Chin Knifed and Beaten up unconscious by a group of gang and Dozens faced taxi-gang attack

BY SIMON

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 02^nd June, 2012: The young Chin refugee minor, Thomas Van Hrin Ceu, 17 yrs from Hmunhalh village, Thantlang Township was attacked yesterday by a group of local gangs while he was relaxing after dinner at his residential building in Ipoh, Perak State which is far 3 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur according to report from his relative.  

The victim along with his friend who is elder than him was relaxing at the ground floor of their apartment after dinner as the weather was hot and lack of space for relax due to jam-packed living condition. His friend, who was interviewed by The VOCR, said we both were immediately attacked by the thug but I could manage to escape from the scene, adding that his minor friend was mostly hit and could no longer struggle to sneak out from their hands. And he was knifed twice on his left back and being beaten up severely in addition to ransacking all his property, hand-phone and little money.

He was bloodily left unconscious with severe wounds on his body. The muggers run away when group of Chins living the near-by came to the scene to help their fellow minor. 

The report revealed that he was hurriedly brought to the hospital and having medical treatment at ICU (Intensive Care Unit). It is learnt that he is getting better now but struggling to cope with a huge influence of his post trauma fear. 

Just recently, dozens of Chin, according to the victims and community report, living in Kuala Lumpur faced money exploitation by taxi driver who claimed himself one of a powerful member of a very notorious gangster group championing in Malaysia. Dozens of Chins say that they were charged extremely huge money up to RM-40 to 80, although they used to paying RM-5 for a normal travel. 

The scene is mostly taking place between Pudu and Imbi where Chin community based organizations are situated. The immediate report was raised to the police station with detailed information when two of Chin community leaders encountered the same incident last Saturday. 

Obviously, nothing happens better so far but the offense is getting worse, quoted one of Chin community leader as saying to The VOCR.

Gang-attack Rocked the Chin Refugee Community

Dilapidated shop-lot houses in Taman Maluri, Cheras.

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 26 May 2012: The self-protective fighting against the gang-attack left two of Chin refugees badly injured and sent to hospital in addition to paying ransom money about RM-1800 [US$ 620] for the freedom of one of community leaders kidnapped in the area of Maluri Cheras situated 10 minute drive from Jalan Imbi, the Chin refugee center according to eye-witness.

It was learnt that the young Chin refugee guy at last Sunday night was gang-attacked by three of the local gangs while texting his friend on the phone by the street in Maluri, Cheras where he is residing. When the guy was seen fleeing from the attack at the scene, he was quickly assisted fighting against the gang group in defense of the young Chin guy by two of the Chin refugee elders living in the same area.  

Having noticed that they [the gangs] are so weak enough fighting with the two Chin men, they called on their friends and dozens of them within minutes turned to the street in order to fight back with the two Chin refugee men. After the nearly one hour-long fighting, both sides are known severely wounded at the end. Many of the local gang group left the fighting as many of Chins are more and more getting involved in the fight to help their suffering fellows.

It was successfully stopped by the intervention of the authority—police. One of Chin refugee men was known knifed on his right hand and severely wounded. 

Many of them from both sides were summoned to police station, according to what sources revealed, but Chin refugees getting involved in the hour-long fight was verbally threatened if dared to lodge an official report to the police at their station with the identity of refugees whilst all of the local gangs were let go back home untouched.  

Despite the fact that it was believed that the problem was well settled at the police station, Mr. Thla Kung, one of the community leaders working at Chin Disciplinary Action Committee (CDAC) in the area was kidnapped and asked ransom money about RM-1800 for his release. It was allegedly believed that the three brother gang hobnobbing with the near-by gangsters invited the Indian-Malaysian a thug of gangsters running an internet café at the area in connection with the incident as they fear the huge refugee population. 

Three of the gang were identified as Sabah-born Malaysian and having a development studies in the near-by college. Even so, instead of going well to college, they turned to be bad guys like big gangsters and always giving troubles to Chin refugees. 

Prior to this, they apparently at so many occasions extorted and robbed Chin refugees’ property, such as, hand-phones and money. Even worse, they are also engaged in committing attempted harassment towards Chin girls and ladies at a time when they are at night returning home from their workplace. 

Looking back to the scenario of the fight, justice and fairness for refugees cannot extensively be seen as many areas of Malaysia society is overpoweringly ruled by gangsters. 

Due to fear of the chaos, the Chins dominated refugee community in the area is advised to warn against the possibility of further violent attack from the powerful gang group and not to unnecessarily go around at night. 

Reporting by Simon

Reports on Current Detention Situation

BY SIMON

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. 

CHIN REFUGEE WOMAN ESCAPES SEXUAL HARRASSMENT FROM BANGLADESHI WORKER

BY SALAI CC

A refugee woman recently escaped from an incident of sexual harassment and possible attempted rape exploited by a Bangladeshi worker who had unwelcomingly entered a victim’s accommodation provided by the Chinese employer at a construction site. 

The perpetrator, identified as a Bangladeshi worker, had allegedly entered the victim's accommodation after the man realized a woman was staying alone. The incident occurred at approximately 11 o'clock local time yesterday.

Mrs. Par Zi, from Thangtlang Tsp, had come to Malaysia to reunite with her husband, Lal Hmun Sang, in the mid of 2009 after a long separation. They are registered with the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur. The couple has four children and currently works at different locations under the same employer.

The mother of four, who has been working at the site for several months, was extremely frightened and had yelled for help while the sexual attacker was collapsed on the floor inside her room. Nobody seemed to have taken notice. The incident was likely to have happened after the man was aroused after the sight of a woman coming out of the shower wrapped only with a sarong. 

Fortunately, after a quick struggle out of the terrifying situation, the victim managed to contact her employer immediately and was able to inform the husband through their Chinese employer. 

“I was stunned with disbelief at first. But I arrived at the scene shortly after receiving information from my boss about the incident and I confronted the Bangladeshi worker who attempted to rape my wife. But I was constantly stopped by my employer,” the furious husband informed. 

According to his employer, the report has been lodged to the nearest police station and they [the police] are ready to take every appropriate action against the perpetrator.

The Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) condemned the incident and expressed their concern for the personal safety of the victim at her workplace. 

“We will contact the employer to make sure that every refugee working at the construction site is protected from other aliens who are normally offensive against the refugees. Some menial workers are malevolent and harmful to other workers who have basically low self-esteem due to their status,” a coordinator commented. 

The company of workers were stunned and enraged after learning what had happened to the only woman employed as a store keeper within the construction building.

Investigations are expected to be carried out promptly after the victim's family has agreed for the police to take action against the offender who had intentionally entered Mrs. Par Zi accommodation and committed the harassment. 

Chin Asylum-seeker Girl Seriously Injured in An Abducted attack

Photo: VOCR

Puchung (VOCR), March 22, 2012: A Chin asylum seeker girl, who is known as Tum Zi from Tlangkhua, Thantlang Tsp, Chin state, was abducted to get a ride on the motor-bike by a man while she was lost on the way back home from looking for a job in TESCO area in Puchung, northern suburban from Kuala Lumpur.

“I just recently arrived in Malaysia and working in a restaurant where the working hour is very long and decided to find a better job in TESCO area when I got a day off” said the victim in an interview with The VOCR, adding that she is very new and inexperience to Malaysia which led her unnoticeably got on a bus which heads to different destination from where she lives.

When noticed the bus going to different way, she turned to ask the bus driver where the bus was heading. Having being told to get off from the bus, she tried her best to find the nearest bus-stop for the fact that she is petrified of getting taxi alone.

While she was looking for the nearest bus-stop, a man claimed by the victim as a Rohinya with his motor-bike crossed the road and finding her walking alone and turned back to her and approaching her. Immediately, she was asked whether where she wanted to go home, the man apparently persuaded her to get her sent off home by his motor-bike.

Despite attempts to refuse him, as there is no one walking around the area, he finally forcibly abducted her to get on his motor-bike with threats to be harmed if prepared to run away.

After following him for just a little while, the man started physically harassing her body with question repeatedly asking her nationality. Even so, she honestly still replied that she is an asylum seeker from Chin state, Burma. The man seemed to doubly speed up his motor-bike driving.

Photo: VOCR

The incident taken place is believed to be around 4:30 p.m on 20^th of this month.

Learning that she will surely be harmed if continuously followed him, she decided to better die on the road than facing a physical abuse by the man which is the sole trigger for jumping down from the motor-bike on the full speeding run.

She was left seriously injured in several places on her body and not even knowing how she was brought up to the Burmese shop near her residence. As soon as she could manage to get home, she fell unconscious for couple of hours and later gaining a recovery back, yelled her roommate.

Also, her roommate added that the incident was so horrifically tragic that she feels as if it was a dreaming.

Asked how she could manage to get home, according to her friend who went to Burmese shop the next morning for further information, it was suggested that she might possibly be brought to the nearby Burmese shop by the perpetrator himself knowing that she is a Chin asylum seeker living in the surrounding area which purportedly causes suspicion that he might be closely associated with the businessmen working at Burmese shop.  The allegation is taken based on the way the Burmese respond.

Meanwhile, the Burmese people at the shop also deny connection with the incident but rather claimed that she approached to them by herself and even providing her with some medical attention, instead.

The victim herself does not know how she can get home during an interview with The VOCR.  

Prior to this, there was a similar kind of incident occurred that Ngun Uk Mang from the same village was once stabbed in his back at the drunken brawl with the Burmese guys from the shop four months ago. He was said to have been normal from his wounds as he had medical treatment for couple of days at hospital.

It was learnt that the victim is currently being assisted both mentally and physically by the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC).



By Simon

Asylum Seekers Caned in Detention Depots as the Govt’s 6P Programme Extends Ahead

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 23^rd February 2012:  The Putrajaya government has extended the biometric system registration for the illegal migrants till April 10 despite making a public announcement in The Star news on the 11^th and 15^th February 2012 about the “Big Sweep” targeting against illegal migrants working in the country including asylum seekers and refugees. (Refugees are recognized by the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)).

So far, it is learnt that the UNHCR office is progressive in talks with the government on this critical issue which creates confusion and much fear for possible deportation among refugee communities after this round of biometric registration requires finger-printing.

Recently, up to nearly one thousand illegal migrants and asylum seekers, according to the credible sources, registered in this biometric registration have been deported to their home country.  The VOCR believes some of Myanmar ethnic refugees are also included.

Just before the public announcement was made, unprecedented small-scale round-ups were simultaneously exercised which resulted in dozens of Chin asylum seekers arrested and are currently being detained in various immigration depots.  Once being sent to immigration depots, it is uncertain how long they will be suffering from bitter detention experiences.  

Chin asylum seekers, Zing Hup Lian, Cung Cheng Thawng, Tial Cham, who were arrested on 5^th December, 2011 while on the way back home from their workplace at Bukit Bintang, have been caned by the immigration authority in Kajang immigration depot and transferred again to Lenggeng immigration camp which is the most used depot for Chin refugees. Their fellow villagers could manage to meet them in detainment on 5^th Feb with the prison authority’s permission. Here they discovered the guise of the detention management is extremely poor.

The caning was believed to be exercised against these genuine asylum seekers on the ground that they are illegal entrants and lack of valid documents.  It is highly speculated that more of the refugee population will be facing this indiscriminate action, when they need international protection because they escaped from severe domestic persecutions committed by the Burmese Military Regime.

In a clear preview of things to come, the situation for refugees and asylum seekers is likely to be getting worse day after day according to recent news report.

At worst scenario, the RELA (People Volunteer Corps), who are mostly used in the crackdowns, have an extensive power in raiding the illegals, asylum seekers, and refugees.

It is well noted that Malaysia does not adopt key international instruments that protect the rights of migrants as the country is not a signatory of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, or the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees.  Refugee status does not exist in Malaysian law according to SUARAM, the human rights watchdog for Malaysia. Refugees are thus treated as illegal migrants except in some cases they are pardoned because refugees are recognized by the office of UNHCR which means UNHCR document holders may enjoy de facto protection at the national level (FIDH-SUARAM 2008, 9).

On the issue regarding the thoughts of the international community presuming refugees and asylum seekers can return to their mother country, the Chin communities with one voice say that it is obviously impossible to return home unless the political settlement is guaranteed in Myanmar.

Reporting by Simon

EARLY CELEBRATIONS OF THE 64TH CHIN NATIONAL DAY

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 31^st January: Chin National Day is on February 20 and is a celebration of the will of the Chin people to elect leaders rather than accept Chief tans.  The first Chin National Day was established in the town of Falam near the Mizoram border (in the Chin State of Myanmar) at the end of the conference where these first leaders were elected on the 20^th February, 1948.  We are celebrating early here in Imbi, Kuala Lumpur due to the Chinese New Year leading to many Chin refugees having off of work.  

The celebration was kicked off on Saturday morning, January 21 with opening speeches given by local community leaders.  Then the games began! Patrick Sang Bawi Hnin, of the Chin Refugee Center, and Siam Mawi, of the Chin Disciplinary Action Committee, were the senior organizers for this year games which included Football, Men's and Women's Volleyball, and Traditional Chin Wrestling.  The games this year probably brought over 1000 spectators to Imbi periodically over the first week which was more than double from previous years.

The Football tournament is the longest of the three sports lasting over 2 weeks.  The Final Game between HPH (Hakha Peng Fellowship) and Zophei Fellowship will be this Sunday, February 5 at 3:30 pm.  There are sixteen competing teams composed of different villages and some villages combined to make a fellowship.  The other competing teams included Dai, Falam, Kanpalet, Lautu, Mara, Matu, Mindat Cho, Mindat Kaang, Mi-E, Mizo, Paletwa, Senthang, TPF (Thantlang Peng Fellowship), Zo (Tedim), Zophei and Zotung.

The two contestant wrestlers tackling at Chin traditional wrestling (Laipaih) 

competition.(Photo:VOCR)

In wrestling, the overall champion was the defending champion from last year competition, Hoi Chung.  Wow, wow, wow did he have a mean take down! The club-to-club winner was Hniarlawn who beat the other five teams including:  Hakha, Mi-E, Chuncung, Rulbu, and Khualhringtlang fellowship.  The wrestling tournament lasted two days and drew at least a few hundred people to Imbi Field.  The Chin Traditional Wrestling is a very interesting sport that requires strategy, strength, endurance, and a little weight doesn't hurt!

Woman's volleyball had three competing teams:  HPH (Hakha Peng Fellowship), Zophei Fellowship, and Mara Fellowship.  With the team HPH (Hakha Peng Fellowship) taking the championship.  Men's volleyball was dominated by the Falam, particularly carrying with the name of Hlawnceu taking the championship, Falam fellowship coming in second, and Mara taking third.  There were a total of eight competing teams also including: Hakha, Khual Hring, Lautu, Zotung, and Mizo.

The winners of each Championship Competition were awarded small cash prizes.  One of the goals of the games is to encourage camaraderie amongst the Chin refugees of Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas.  I think it is a great success.  The masses are bringing good business to the area.  Smiles and excitement are in abundance amongst players, spectators, and organizers!!!  Come out to the final football game this Sunday!  

The football match between two opponent teams going on in the field  ( Photo:VOCR)

Remember the reason of Chin National Day is to enjoy one another and most of all appreciate the initiative of the Chin people to elect their leaders! 

The sole purpose of CND is creating an unforgettable day in the heart of Chins that Chin leaders with one spirit despite a huge cultural diversity are demanding freedom and self-determination from the mainland, Burmese military regime government and freely exercising governing body for the state. 

It is being prepared to prestigiously hold a concert-styled celebration which includes cultural dances and other performances and miss selection in coming 20^th of February at FGA (Full Gospel Assembly Church) in Kochai Lama, Selangor.  

Kimberly McNeelan contributed to this reporting.

Fire Victims of Chin Refugee Families In Need of Aids

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) on 22^nd Dec: Four of Chin refugee families including dozens of Burmese migrant and Bangladeshi workers fled in terror in the early morning fire which wrecked a block of flats in the area of packed population of Chin refugees currently living in Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur on 19^th December, 2011. The two hour-long fire cost a great loss for dozen of families, mostly their possessions were burnt down.

Fire victim: One of Chin refugee families taken shot at CDAC office

The fire is believed to be started around 7:00 a.m from building number, 15C which is entirely occupied by the Burmese migrant workers, possibly, due to the indisciplinable and extreme use of electricity.  Despite the fact that the fire, as the witnesses prompt, was learnt slowly surged through, the gradual velocity of fire department personnel exponentially caused a double damage as most of the victims’ goods and its contents destroyed—leaving lots of possessions from other nationals ruined including four of Chin refugee families, victims of fire, who were temporarily sheltered in CDAC (Chin Disciplinary Action Committee) office and the respective community later is determined to taking care of them for the time being.

Fire victim: One of Chin refugee families taken shot in CRC office

On the spot day, the fire victim families were provided small amount of financial support collected from the nearest Chin fellows.

The flame was able to be put an end about 10:15 a.m in the morning with the daring attempts of fire crew.

Fire victims: One of Chin refugee families taken photo at CRC office

So strong to be extinguished easily though the flame was, CRC (Chin Refugee Committee) office was somewhat affected. “Despite such tragedy, it was absolutely the grace of God that He saves us from this burning blaze which we all thought will swoop our office within minutes but could successfully be put out at a time when the flame approaching our roof,” said coordinator of CRC, Heny Tin Maung Shwe. He added that sparing CRC office was indeed a great miracle that we saw in our own eyes—meaning God really loves Chins and makes CRC safe from harm.

Pile of documents and other materials gathered from CRC and CSO (Chin Student Organization)

All staffs were seen too busy the whole day long—rushing taking all documents down while the flame strongly on blaze and cleansing the office and keeping the documents back in order with the gracious helping hands from other Chin fellows who volunteered for this calamity we come across.

Pile of possessions of Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrant workers at the scene.   

Due to the fire, they are to move to other places or might perhaps be facing serious action

     taken against them by the authority. And the investigation on the cause is underway. 

Meanwhile, all victims of Chin families are learnt to have been brought to the office of UNHCR for further possible supports. However, it is not certain that their needs can be met for the fact that it is not uncommon to see the office of UNHCR in Malaysia is not able to wholly take care of the sick, disable and immediate victims of all kinds of abuse and violations until recently.  

For the victims, donations individually, in group or organization can be made via CRC office at the address below:

Chin Refugee Committee

11C, Jalan Koo Teik Ee

Off Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Phones : 03-2144 7271, 03-2110 0876

Fax      : 03-2141 7271

Email   : crcmalaysia2011@yahoo.com

Reporting by Simon

Refugees Care Malaysia: Peace Project On the Go

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 03 Dec: Tens of thousands of refugees from Myanmar, also known as Burma, stranded in Malaysia, are regarded as nothing but rubbish and problem causers by the government, according to various NGO sources. To be honest, a handful of youth who cannot perceive their future as positive and bright have in fact turned to alcoholic drinking in an attempt to ease their current problems, as they were in the habit of doing in the motherland.  

In light of complaints from the locals, in the Chin community various leaders of established fellowships are truly harmonious in an effort to work for projects that can turn the locals’ attitudes towards refugees in reverse. 

The CDAC (Chin Disciplinary Action Committee) is the lead team in the first wave of implementing the care project. It has been several months since the “Peace Project” set up by CDAC has begun to be implemented in areas where members of CDAC are stationed. The aim of the project is the clean-up of local areas and washing the buildings occupied by refugees. “The locals view this as a very good activity, as seen by their active support, and among the authorities as well,” said Lal Siam Mawi, currently chairman of CDAC.

Although members of CDAC are stationed in 24 locations, the areas for this Peace project are targeted in Selangor state. The areas are Imbi, Cheras Maluri, Cheras Alam Jaya, Ampang, Pandah Indah, Sungai Besi, Lokyew and Jalan Ipoh—the locations mainly occupied by Chin refugees. 

The cleansing program is presented as a “must-do” policy, twice a month in each area. This presentation empowers the program to continue with regularity. 

Leaders from Chin communities including Mr. Lal Siam Mawi clearly state that we are not problem causers, but we come carrying with us the problems obtained in our home country. We are, however, always willing to be at peace with the locals.

Although there is a great diversity of challenges, leaders of the Chin are of the same spirit in caring about what the locals care about and highly committed to deterring unruly behavior and violations occasionally committed by drunken Chin youth. There is a serious concern that the disturbances caused by drunken Chin youth could very well create additional negative consequences for the entire Malaysian refugee population.

The project is being funded by Social Protect Funds (SPF) which is under the umbrella of UNHCR office. The UNHCR office is closely cooperating with SPF on implementing the project. Provided that it succeeds in one area, it will be extended to all areas where Chin are currently living.

The Immigration Crackdown Begins

Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 21 Nov: The immigration operation over refugees and asylum seekers has been arresting and detaining recognized refugees in a wide sweep across Malaysia. According to reports received from Chin community, the areas that have recently been concentrated on are, Seremban City, Negeri Sembilan State, the eastern part of Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh City, Kedah State, the northern part of Kuala Lumpur and Kepong, the suburban area of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor State.

In the ten total arrests that VOCR could get the details of, six Chin refugees were nabbed in Seremban City and all of them were directly sent to Lenggeng immigration detention center. Among six arrestees, including one woman, only two are registered refugees with the office of UNHCR. Although there is hope for their release soon, the rest will be facing indefinite detention and need the immediate intervention of UNHCR. A man who is still unregistered and was arrested in Ipoh city is now being detained in Lengkap immigration detention center.

Three people, including one woman, captured in Kepong, the suburban area of Kuala Lumpur are currently being detained in Seri Hatamas Jalan Duta Desa Immigration complex lockup. They will be in court in a few days and the authorities will call on the UNHCR office in an attempt to check whether they are of genuine refugees.

The immigration authority in the raids obviously question people arrested whether or not they did fingerprinting in 6p programme in the past few months. Of all arrestees, they are just yet to be done with it in the near future. The programme is slated to start in early of 2012 but it is prompted for the time being that many people both recognised refugee and asylum seeker will possibly be swept over as the crackdown is already commenced.

One of the community volunteers from the Chin Refugee Committee in Kuala Lumpur believes it is certain that they will sooner or later be sent to a detention center and perhaps face months of detention.

“By learning the areas targeted,” he added, “the immigration authorities start raiding restaurants which they believe are dominated by Myanmar refugees and migrant workers.”  

With the immigration crackdown beginning, the Chin community fears for the displacement of thousands of family members still waiting in queue for registration from the office of the UNHCR. 

Meanwhile, registration with the UNHCR office based on family relationships for the purposes of family reunification continues to move incredibly slow, a situation creating both fear and panic among thousands of refugees in Malaysia.

Reporting by Simon

Chin Asylum-Seeker Murdered at the Hands of Burmese National

Source: googlemap

Cameroon Highlands (VOCR) 18 Nov: An asylum seeker of the Chin State named Geik Law Kha was severely beaten up in a fight that occurred at last Wednesday’s night in Batu 49 camp, where hundreds of Chin refugees live. Geik Law Kha was beaten by a Burmese migrant worker with a passport, known as Tin Lin, and proclaimed dead yesterday morning in Ipoh general hospital, in the Perak state. 

It was learned that he was a holder of an ACR card (means a member of Alliance of Chin Refugee) and from Mindat Township, Chin state.

The cause of the incident that took place last night remains a mystery.

The murderer was arrested after a search effort lasting the whole night, said Billy Tong Hmung, coordinator of Chin Highland Community recently set up with the support of Social Protect Funds (SPF) which is under the UNHCR office.

In an interview with the VOCR, the community leader added that Tin Lin, the murderer, is currently under an intensive investigation of authorities in the Cameroon Highlands police force. The case is being kept confidential and has yet to be revealed to us. However, it was believed that Tin Lin could be incarcerated for up to 10 years in depots.

Recently, the community in Cameroon Highlands is highly concerned that there might possibly bring about the retaliation fight from our fellow Chins, said one of the community leaders.

Asked how many Burmese migrant workers work in the area, CHC's leaders estimate that there are around 30.

For the record, more than 1,500 Chins, both recognized refugees and asylum seekers, are living in Cameroon Highlands, seen as the sole producer of vegetables and fruits for the mainland, Malaysia and Singapore. Most of the people work in vegetable farms and are paid less than RM-25 a day, which is only equivalent to $8.

To date, refugees and asylum seekers working in Cameroon Highlands have been hiding in the jungle every night, for fear of the unceasing raids monitored by the authorities.

Apparently, this is not an uncommon situation facing Chin refugees and asylum seekers. Murder at the hands of Burmese nationals occurs with alarming frequency. In Malaysia, since 2005, the figure of Chins murdered at the hands of Burmese migrant workers is believed to total at more than a dozen in number, according to one community leader in Kuala Lumpur.

Reporting by Simon