Published
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 12:29
Malaysia arrests Burmese refugees including UN card holders
Burmese refugees in Malaysia are being increasingly rounded up after the new government in Malaysia came to power. Even refugees holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Identity cards are not being spared, a Burmese refugee in Malaysia said.
Burmese refugees in Malaysia are being increasingly rounded up after the new government in Malaysia came to power. Even refugees holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Identity cards are not being spared, a Burmese refugee in Malaysia said.
The arrests were made following raids in the Burmese refugee offices in Malaysia. Karen and Chin refugee offices were included in the raids. Many office bearers have gone into hiding.
"The police came and arrested about 20 refugees in my apartment and also went to raid the office of the Burmese refugees," said a Kachin refugee. "This week, they came to make the arrest in three cars. There were over hundreds of arrests including six Kachin refugees," he added.
According to refugees in Malaysia, over the past year, even refugees with UNHCR cards were arrested. They were released with the UN helping to take them out of jail. Now it is different with the police arresting the refugees for living illegally in Malaysia.
"Most Kachin people came to Malaysia on an UN refugee programme. If we get arrested even after that what can we expect from the UN? There are many problems especially for the women," said another Kachin refugee.
In Malaysia, officially there are over 2,000 Kachin refugees. Others, not listed officially account for another 2,000. Even though the UN is not accepting new refugees, Kachins continue to come to Malaysia.
The arrests were made following raids in the Burmese refugee offices in Malaysia. Karen and Chin refugee offices were included in the raids. Many office bearers have gone into hiding.
"The police came and arrested about 20 refugees in my apartment and also went to raid the office of the Burmese refugees," said a Kachin refugee. "This week, they came to make the arrest in three cars. There were over hundreds of arrests including six Kachin refugees," he added.
According to refugees in Malaysia, over the past year, even refugees with UNHCR cards were arrested. They were released with the UN helping to take them out of jail. Now it is different with the police arresting the refugees for living illegally in Malaysia.
"Most Kachin people came to Malaysia on an UN refugee programme. If we get arrested even after that what can we expect from the UN? There are many problems especially for the women," said another Kachin refugee.
In Malaysia, officially there are over 2,000 Kachin refugees. Others, not listed officially account for another 2,000. Even though the UN is not accepting new refugees, Kachins continue to come to Malaysia.
