APPEAL TO MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE CRACKDOWN ON REFUGEES.

 

 

4^th July 2008

 

 

 

Press Statement

 

APPEAL TO MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE CRACKDOWN ON REFUGEES.

 

On 4th July 2008 about 200 migrants were arrested in Jalan Meru and Kampung Jawa, Klang in 1.30am raid by the Immigration and Rela. Out of this number, about 80 person are Stateless Rohingya refugees. According to refugees, during the raid one month old baby, 15 children and 10 women was picked up by the Immigration. They were sent to Semenyih detention camp.

 

Malaysia does not recognise refugees and is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention. However, Malaysia and all countries are bound by the principle of non-refoulement, which says that no one may be returned to a country where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations.

 

As everyone knows that human rights situation in Myanmar is grave. Rohingyas returned to Myanmar are at serious risk of human rights violations including torture, arbitrary detention, forced labour, denied citizenship, restricted movement etc.

 

We appeal to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Home Minister to stop the arrest on refugees and issue a temporary document to refugees so that we can stay and work with permission while waiting for the UNHCR to process our resettlement.

 

We also hope that the ASEAN countries can add on pressure to Junta to end the human rights violations in order to reduce the number of people becoming refugees.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Mr. Zafar Ahmad Haji Abdul Ghani

President of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

Penthouse, Wisma MLS

No. 31 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

50100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Tel: 603. 26913691 / 26973671

Fax: 603. 26913681

H/P: 6016- 6827287,

Web: http://merhrom.wordpress.com

Email: rights4rohingya@yahoo.co.uk

7,000 Laputta Refugees Told to Return Home

 

The blue UN tents at a camp on the outskirts of Laputta, in the Irrawaddy delta. Three of five camps in Laputta town are under renewed pressure from the local authorities to return home. (Photo: Aung Thet Wine / The Irrawaddy)

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By SAW YAN NAING

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

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At least 7,000 cyclone survivors sheltering in three temporary camps in Laputta town, in the Irrawaddy delta, are under renewed pressure from the local authorities to return home, according to sources there.

About 10,000 refugees are still living in Laputta’s five refugee camps, supported by local authorities and nongovernmental organizations.

The 7,000 now urged to return to their home villages have been warned that unless they leave the camps they can expect no aid next month, said one local source, Aye Kyu.

Those who agree to go home will be provided with enough rice, oil and beans to last 10 days and will participate in a draw for the houses now being built in the devastated villages, Aye Kyu said.

The supplies are insufficient, however, according to Aye Win, a spokesman for the UN Information Center in Rangoon.

The state-owned daily New Light of Myanmar reported on Tuesday that the government planned to build 4,000 houses for cyclone victims in the Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon Division.     

About 18 private companies and bankers would be involved in the construction of the homes, the paper said.

Despite the inducements to take up residence again in their devastated villages, about 400 cyclone survivors who were forced to go home returned to Laputta last month and are now living in local monasteries, sources reported.

Thousands of residents of more than 30 villages in Bogalay Township were told by the Department of Forestry last month to relocate because they were said to be living on national park land.

Britain’s & France’s premier urge immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi

 

For Her 63rd Birthday (postcard)

Jun 19th, 2008

By DAVID STRINGER,

AP

Posted: 2008-06-19 06:19:24

 

LONDON (AP) - Britain and France demanded Thursday that Myanmar’s regime release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as she marked her 63rd birthday under house arrest.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that her release is essential.

Suu Kyi has spent more than 12 of the last 18 years under detention, since her party swept national elections in 1990. Military rulers refused to honor the results.

“You have sacrificed your freedom for the freedom of others. You have shown exceptional courage and dedication to your people. Your release from house arrest and your freedom to participate in Burma’s political future remain essential,” the leaders said in a joint letter to Suu Kyi.Brown and Sarkozy met in Paris on Thursday, before a European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium.

 

In their letter, Brown and Sarkozy also deplored Myanmar’s response to the May 2-3 Cyclone, Nargis, which Myanmar’s ruling junta says killed more than 78,000 people and left another 56,000 people missing.

The men said it was regrettable that Myanmar’s people “already deprived of basic human freedoms and economic opportunities, have fallen victim to such a major natural disaster.”

Their letter rebuked the military regime in Myanmar, also known as Burma, for failing to take up sufficient offers of aid.

Sarkozy and Brown criticized the junta’s decision to hold a referendum on a new constitution in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The constitution, which gives the military broad powers, was overwhelmingly approved in the national referendum held on May 10, about a week after the cyclone.

“We believe the recent referendum lacks credibility as a genuine reflection of the people’s will and the new constitution cannot provide a sound basis for Burma’s future political development,” the European leaders said.

 

My dear friends

Sending you bundant Blessings for World Refugee Day.
May you have success in all your endeavours & may all your dreams come true ……

With thoughts & prayers
anne

Help us remember refugees on World Refugee Day.

As one of our supporters, you understand that refugees do not leave their homes and villages because they want to. They are forced to do so by conflict or persecution. They’re fleeing for their lives, trying to find safety, shelter and a way to meet their most basic needs.

On World Refugee Day we want to share with you an opportunity to learn more about the lives of refugees, celebrate their amazing resilience and to do something to restore their hope.

We hope you’ll join us: read on to see special messages from UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie and the High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres; for videos about the real lives of refugees through their own eyes; and to visit a refugee camp with Google Earth.

And on this special day, you can also help protect refugees by donating to our shelter appeal.

 

 

 

 

20^th June 2008

 

Press Statement

 

 

ACTING TODAY TO SAVE REFUGEES.

 

In the year 2007, the global number of Refugees and Displaced people reached 67 million. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there has been an increase in the last 2 years.

 

While the world is facing an increase in the global number of Refugees, Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) urge the United Nations agencies especially UNHCR to find solutions to the problems faced by the Refugees and displaced people by addressing the Root Causes.

 

In the case of Myanmar, though the United Nations made attempts to restore democracy by meeting with military Junta but there are no changes whatsoever. The military Junta continues with the human rights violations. The United Nations has to use a different strategy in dealing with Myanmar military Junta to end its human rights violations to the people of Myanmar. We will continue see an increasing number of Refugees from Myanmar, that would contribute to the global numbers of Refugees and Displaced people until and unless the United Nations is able to restore democracy in Myanmar.

 

Recognizing the fact that UNHCR faces various challenges in dealing with Refugees issues, MERHROM continues to call on UNHCR to protect the rights of Refugees as they are one of the most vulnerable groups. UNHCR must continue the dialogue with the host countries of Refugees to stop the arrest, detention and deportation of Refugees due to their vulnerable situations. The deportation of Refugees to the Thailand border further increases their vulnerability to human trafficking.

 

Apart from the continuous dialogue with the host countries of Refugees, MERHROM calls on UNHCR, to not discriminate and practice double standards in the Resettlement processes based on ethnicity, race and religion. Further to that, the Resettlement Countries should not practice discriminatory policies in accepting Refugees into their countries.

 

As we understand UNHCR also have some limitations in Resettling Refugees due to its large number, MERHROM appeals to the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva to look seriously into the plight of Stateless Rohingya Refugees who mainly seek refuge in Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Rohingya Refugees have been stranded in Malaysia for almost 2 decades, yet there has been no solution to the plights.

 

While UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur resettled other ethnic Refugees from Myanmar, MERHROM hope that UNHCR applies the same policy towards Rohingya Refugees as we are in need of the same protection, assistance, education and safe environment like others.

 

MERHROM also appeals to the host countries of Refugees to issue temporary documents to allow Refugees to stay and work legally while UNHCR processes our Resettlement to the third countries. By allowing Refugees to work, we could also contribute to the economic development of the host countries.

 

Though not many countries signed 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, most of the host countries of Refugees have signed Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), therefore the state is accountable to the protection of every child and woman in their soil but the reality is, babies, children and women continue to become subject to arrest, detention and deportation.

 

Currently Refugees’ life is challenged by the high increase of the prices of goods. It is really hard for Refugees to continue living in the current situation as we are not allowed to work. Therefore, we really hope that the host countries be more sympathetic to our plights as shown towards the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

 

It is not easy to live as a Refugee in a foreign land where our rights are completely denied. Our suffering is unexplainable.

 

We hope that our voices will be heard on this World Refugee Day, actions will be taken to reduce our sufferings and that we can work together in bringing a better future to all Refugees.

 

Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Zafar Ahmad Bin Hj. Abdul Ghani

President of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia

Tel: 016 6827287

Penthouse, Wisma MLS, No.31 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100 Kuala Lumpur.

Email: rights4rohingya@yahoo.co.uk

Blog: http://www.merhrom.wordpress.com

 

No quick solution for illegals in Sabah, says Syed Hamid

Source: by The Star News Saturday June 14, 2008 ( P.g-N-1
No quick solution for illegals in Sabah, says Syed Hamid

KOTA KINABALU: Finding solutions to Sabah’s thorny migrant problem might not be as easy as many Sabahans hope.

After a two-day visit to Sabah, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said there was a need to address the wide-ranging issues of illegal immigrants in a humane manner and without getting emotional.

He said issues of illegal immigrants were straightforward but the problem involving stateless and street children needed to be addressed in accordance to international law and children’s rights.

“As for illegal immigrants, we can handle it as governments of their country of origin will provide relevant travel documents for deportation. We have deported over 100,000 since 2000.

“However, stateless children of migrants are not being accepted. We have to see what we can do to resolve this problem,” said Syed Hamid, adding that such problems existed in Peninsula Malaysia with the Rohingya issue.

“Previously we discussed with the United States who accepted a few thousand Rohingya to their country,” he said, adding that Malaysia hoped to discuss with other countries to help take in the stateless people.

“I spoke to a 16-year-old stateless boy who has no education. It will be difficult to find a third country for him,” he said.

Urging the people here not to be emotional over the issue, Syed Hamid said the issue of illegal immigrants was being played up.

“You can’t impose, we need to cooperate and find solutions. We understand the fears of the local people,” he said, adding that the Special Cabinet Committee on illegal immigrants headed by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would be meeting soon.

On calls by Sabah leaders for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into cases of illegal immigrants obtaining Malaysian ICs through the backdoor, Syed Hamid said that there was no need for one.

Village of illegals exposed

Source: By Sunday Star(P.g N-22)

Sunday June 15, 2008

Village of illegals exposed

By STEVEN DANIEL

KUALA LUMPUR: A community of illegal immigrants living in a forest near Taman Desa, Kepong, was uncovered by Immigration officers who arrested 48 people, mostly from Myanmar.

There were eight women among them aged between 20 and 37 years. City Immigration Department director Mohd Khamdee Khuzaini Tukiman said they were detained yesterday morning after two years of surveillance.

He said 66 people from four departments, including the Immigration Department, Rela, Civil Defence Force (JPA3) and National Registration Department took part in the operations.

In the 11.30am raid, the enforcement officers posed as construction engineers who trekked 15 minutes into the jungle before reaching the village.

Some of the immigrants were cooking and did not realise the impending raid.

But once they realised what was happening, most of them gave up without a struggle, though a few dashed into the nearby forests to avoid capture.

“They built make-shift shacks to live in, two kitchens to cook their meals and even a place of worship. A large water tank was also found nearby,” Mohd Khamdee said.

He said the village, believed to have been set up a year ago, housed immigrants who worked in nearby factories.

“We also received information from the public that on Saturdays up to 150 Myanmar nationals from nearby areas who would meet in the village to party,” Mohd Khamdee added.

Several objects, which could have been used as weapons, were also seized in the raid.

He said all of them had no documentation and would be sent to the Semenyih detention depot while waiting to be charged with violating Section 6 (3) of the Immigration Act.

He advised locals not to employ and protect illegal immigrants and urged them to call the respective state immigration departments if they had any information on illegal immigrants in their areas.

Picture of Rohingya Refugees in Malaysia

Cry Rohingyas !!! Cry !!!!

Source: by , -http://www.ovimagazine.com/art/2855
Cry Rohingyas!!! Cry!!!! by Rohingya Human Rights 2008-04-08 09:28:26 Print - Comment - Send to a Friend - More from this Author Thailand’s Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said after emerging from a two-hour meeting of the National Security Council on March 28.2008 that the Thai Navy is exploring a deserted island to place the Rohingya refugees living in Thailand. He expressed his intention to show the Rohingyas “life here (Thailand) will be difficult”. He could not show any single point of wrongs or crime that the Rohingyas have ever done in Thailand for which he has decided to banish the entire Rohingya ethnic community in Thailand to a deserted island. Snatching away the right of Rohingyas to citizenship of Burma and conducting genocidal operations from time to time, Burma’s military rulers have turned the Rohingyas into a stateless sub-human community denying our right to live in peace in our motherland Arakan of Burma where we have been living centuries after centuries and where our forefathers ruled the land for many centuries together with our sister communities of Arakan in peace and perfect amity. Today, being uprooted from our own motherland, over 1.5 million Rohingyas are roaming in different countries of the world as status less gypsy human beings. Today, the Thai Prime Minister wants to fulfil the unmet wish of Burma’s ruling generals to kill those hapless Rohingyas who escaped from their paws, through deporting them to the solitary island where either the Thai forces or the Burmese army will be able to massacre the Rohingyas beyond the notice of the international community. The Thai Prime Minister said,” We want electricity. Burma has allowed us to build a dam. We want to sell goods there. Burma will build a port. Is that not good for Thailand?” So, in order to build up a celestial empire, the Thai Prime Minister wants to offer the innocent Rohingyas as the requiem in the altar of tyranny of Burma’s military rulers by sending them to the island of Death where if the Thai forces can place the Rohingyas today, then tomorrow the Burmese forces will land in that island and thus massacre the entire Rohingya men, women and children. Scolding the Western nations for picking on Burma’s military regime, the Thai Prime Minister said that Westerners are overly critical of Burma and he has new found respect for the ruling junta after learning that they meditate like good Buddhists should, conniving the series of atrocities that the military regime has committed even against the revered monks who are the dharma sons of Buddha. On March 25.2008, the Thai army raided Burmese opposition groups in Mae Sot, Thailand. They raided the homes of three Karen National Union leaders and the office of one Burmese student group. Many exiled groups and community organizations in Mae Sot began closing their offices for security reasons. The statement of the Thai Prime Minister sent a wave of shock and grief among the whole Rohingya community. Due to decades long political oppression, economic exploitation, social degradation and cultural slavery, the Burmese military rulers have turned the Rohingyas into a powerless, defenceless and voiceless crippled community. Today we feel so helpless that we do not know how to reach our voice of helplessness and hopelessness to the international community to stir their conscience. Rohingyas have been crying in corners and dying in silence decades after decades. Now, if the international community will not come forward to save the Rohingyas from deportation to the island of death by the Thai Prime Minister, it will just add another notch of genocide on the scale of man-made tragedies of Rohingyas. However, we the 1.5 million Rohingyas in exile will not become the silent spectator of the episode of genocide of our Rohingya brothers, our sisters and our children in Thailand. We will cry through all democratic means to protest the inhuman decision of the Thai Prime Minister. And if necessary, to draw the international attention, we the 1.5 million Rohingya men, women and children in exile will resort to hunger strike until death at the premises of the UN missions and offices of other World Bodies to save our Rohingya brothers, our sisters and our children in Thailand. At the same time, we fervently appeal to international humanitarian community, the World Bodies, human rights groups and the news media to come forward to save the Rohingya refugee community in Thailand. We also appeal to the people of Thailand, its human rights groups as well as its journalist society to understand our plight and come forward to prevail upon their Prime Minister to withdraw his decision. With thanks and best regards. Ahmedur Rahman Farooq Chairman Rohingya Human Rights Council(RHRC) Address: 2975 Vang i Valdres Norway Contact: +4797413036 Email: rohingyas.rhrc@yahoo.com, rohingyas.rhrc@gmail.com Rohingyas Burma Dictator