Vocr March 1st Week
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Page 1
VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 10)
Editorial, The path of a refugee There is a Burmese inspiring folk story that says about a woman living in fear. The story is like this - Long time ago, there was a poor woman in a village near to a forest. One day the woman went to collect fire woods, unexpectedly she heard sound of roaring. She was so scared of that she hid around the bushes and gradually approached a gentle man. As soon as she met, with the gentle man, she felt very much comforted but not very long after that moment, the poor pretty woman discovered that the gentle man was worse than the tiger. A refugee’s life is desperate one. A refugee would find for the safety of his life in any possible means and approach any direction that is first available for him/her. Refugee life is sometime just like the poor woman in the story. Inevitable choices are laid in front of refugees. The situation forced refugees to approach sometimes the wrong place where the wrong persons who look down them and abuses their rights. Refugee usually faces additional inevitable human rights abuses in their transit countries before resettlement to third countries where they would reestablish a new life. Sometimes it is also common that the one that helps or is working for refugees also unknowingly committed human rights violations upon the refugees. However, the refugee would not spoke up about it fearing for their further solutions. So, where should a refugee go? A refugee approaches human trafficker and a refugee approaches insecure places of occupation but just for survival. Sometimes, a refugee inevitably walks through bridges where mocking, assaults and discrimination are still around. The path of a refugee will only be destined at a place where he/she will gain all his rights as a human.
February 09, 2009
8 months pregnant asylum-seeker woman and children detained in Malaysia Salai Eagle VOCR, March 2, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8 months pregnant, asylum-seeker woman from Burma and her two children were arrested in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, by Rela operation on 30th of January 2009. They have been detained in Semeyith detention camps in Malaysia. Pi Hoi Cer, 8 months pregnant belongs to Chin ethnicity from Burma. Her 13 years old daughter Par Iang Hnem and two years old son called Van Bawi Lian were also arrested together with pi Hoi Cer at their resident in Ampang, KL. As the woman’s relatives had reported about her details to Chin Refugee Center in KL, it is known that the center has requested UNHCR office in KL for further intervention for the women and children in the detention center. Furthermore, it has been known that UNHCR had already intervened for the asylum-seeker family in the detention and granted the opportunity to have registration. Ms. Sei Tin Lal who is supposed to depart to USA for resettlement of 5th of March was also arrested on 20th of February 2009. She has been detained in Lengang detention camps. She was arrested at Jalan Imbi. Nowadays refugees in Malaysia especially who are in Kuala Lumpur have been living in fear for night raids that has been constantly heard in different places of Kuala Lumpur. Peter, a Chin refugee from Burma said, “Last Saturday night, I was informed that there will be raid at our building that night, so I left my room and stayed at my friends for one night, but the raid did not happened actually.”
VOCR Weekly Newsletter is issued by VOCR News Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Page 2
VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 10)
VOCR met a Chin refugee patient in Kuala Lumpur Hospital Salai Ram Nun Cung VOCR, March 2, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pu Hme Ceu, a Chin refugee from Van Zang village, Thanthlang Township in Chin State was visited by VOCR at Chowkit in Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Pu Hme Ceu has been feeling kidney disease and lung T.B for more than 3 months.
February 09, 2009
Contact Us: VOCR News Group Email: [email protected], Phone: 006016-9160018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia VOCR weekly newsletter is issued and owned by VOCR news group which is an independent and nonprofit news service focusing on Burma political issues and the Chin refugees in Malaysia.
UNHCR Asked To Verify Status First Before Issuing Refugee Cards KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama)
He has been hospitalized at Kuala Lumpur Hospital since February 23, 2009 and he has treatment with his UNHCR document (RN 1236868). He is about 36 years old and is very thin because of his sickness.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was on Thursday urged to verify the actual status of people seeking asylum in Malaysia before issuing them refugee cards.
He has three children and they stay at Klang, about 70 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur. He arrived to Malaysia in 2006 and he was registered by UNHCR in 2007.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said this was to prevent indiscriminate issuing of refugee status that caused the country to be flooded with foreigners.
The wife and children arrived to Malaysia in 2008 but they still do not registered with UNHCR. His wife is very discomfort for her beloved husband because when blood donation is required, his wife has to sign for an agreement with a doctor but she does not have rights to sign, as she is undocumented. His wife said, “I feel very sad because we are facing financial problem so seriously as well as worrying for the arrest and detention while my husband is till in critical condition.” The doctor said, “He is in critical condition so we can assure only 50% for his recovery.” Since June 2008, UNHCR has stopped registration of family member and dependents of refugees to include in the principle applicants. It is believed that shortage of man power is the main cause of the delay. While waiting for registration, refugee families with young kids and women had been facing daily challenges and living in fear, as they are undocumented. The refugee families have been told by UNHCR office to give their names to their respective community offices in order to register their family members and dependents.
"Actually, those eligible to receive the card are political refugees. But the UNHCR likes to issue it to whoever asks for its help, including economic refugees. "My ministry hopes the UNHCR will evaluate the people seeking refugee status before issuing the cards. We do not want crime and social problems to proliferate here because of the actions of the UNHCR," he told reporters after holding a meeting on the hiring of foreign workers for employers here. Syed Hamid said this in commenting on the issue of illegal immigrants flooding the country and the crime and social problems that arise as a result. He also said the UNHCR often faulted the Home Ministry when the authorities took action against UNHCR refugees who committed crimes or broke the country's laws. "I hope the UNHCR as professional body will act according to the UN Charter.”
VOCR Weekly Newsletter is issued by VOCR News Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Page 3
VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 10) February 09, 2009 Christian Institutions Ordered To Close Down In Rangoon Cultivation allowed only after paying tax to Burmese Army Van Biak Thang Khonumthung News Chinland Guardian 25 February 2009 28 February, 2009 The Burmese Army authorities are not providing permission to clear forests and sow rice saplings without taking tax from the people in Chin state western Myanmar.
At least three Bible colleges and two orphanages have been ordered to shut down by the local SPDC authorities in Mingalardone Township, Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, Chinland Guardian has learned.
A report said that the Matupi based IB (304) has ordered all farmers to pay tax for rice cultivation to the tune of Kyat 20,000 per land as the military has already occupied the particular stretch in Ngala block.
In a letter issued on 24 February 2009 to orphanages and colleges, Chairman of the local SPDC asked the institutions to stop running if they do not possess the official permission and registration. Sources confirmed that one of the colleges has been ordered to close down even though it has got an official registration since 1970s. The local SPDC authorities accused that the colleges do not have permission from the government and that the place and building are not meant for religious activities. A Chin pastor and activist, Rev. Shwekey Hoipang said: "As we all have already known, most of the churches, mission organisations, orphanages and para-churches have been closed and sealed recently by the military regime. It is an ongoing crackdown on Christian growth in Burma and is a careful strategy and plan of the regime." Sources claimed that the SPDC authorities carry out their repressive crackdown from one township to another, targeting Christians and their activities in Rangoon and that it is likely that this will soon go beyond the former capital city throughout the whole country.
“The land belonged to our ancestors. But the military has seized it and added it to its territory as it was very close to their camp. They came up with an excuse that their camp would be burnt if farmers set fire bushes to clean the area to sow rice seeds,” said a local. The settlers in Ngala block had already cleared over100 acres of the forest in January, but the military stopped them and asked them to pay tax first before cultivation. In Chin state, people are totally dependent on rice as it is their staple food. Now they are facing the problem of paying tax – money or rice -- to the authorities of the Matupi based military. They cannot survive without cultivating rice, he added. “The farmers do not have any rights without paying the tax. So we give all we have, whatever they demand from us,” he added. Similarly, the Forest Department in Falam has collected Kyat 2000 an acre from Auhmun, Palte, Laizawl, Tilum and Lumte villages as land and wood taxes in the first month of this year. A report said that the Falam District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) had told the Forest and Revenue Departments not to collect taxes on land and wood in 2008. But the collection continues in some villages, located far from the town.
The unnamed founder of one orphanage is said to be downhearted and very much concerned about his orphan children after the local authorities issued an order to send them back to places where they came from. Since December 2008, more than 100 churches in Rangoon's South Dagon and Pabedan townships have been shut down, about 50 pastors forced to sign the documents promising to stop holding church services, and 80 per cent of churches in Rangoon affected, according to a report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Some local Christians believe that the immediate cause of the oppressive measures is church involvement in relief provision for victims of Cyclone Nargis. In 2004, Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) published a report 'Religious Persecution: a Campaign of Ethnocide against Chin Christians in Burma' which revealed the military regime’s systematic persecutions against Chin Christians as part of a program to Burmanzie the Chin people and various acts of ethnocide against Chin Christians by trying to destroy the Chin religious and cultural identity.
VOCR Weekly Newsletter is issued by VOCR News Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 10)
Editorial, The path of a refugee There is a Burmese inspiring folk story that says about a woman living in fear. The story is like this - Long time ago, there was a poor woman in a village near to a forest. One day the woman went to collect fire woods, unexpectedly she heard sound of roaring. She was so scared of that she hid around the bushes and gradually approached a gentle man. As soon as she met, with the gentle man, she felt very much comforted but not very long after that moment, the poor pretty woman discovered that the gentle man was worse than the tiger. A refugee’s life is desperate one. A refugee would find for the safety of his life in any possible means and approach any direction that is first available for him/her. Refugee life is sometime just like the poor woman in the story. Inevitable choices are laid in front of refugees. The situation forced refugees to approach sometimes the wrong place where the wrong persons who look down them and abuses their rights. Refugee usually faces additional inevitable human rights abuses in their transit countries before resettlement to third countries where they would reestablish a new life. Sometimes it is also common that the one that helps or is working for refugees also unknowingly committed human rights violations upon the refugees. However, the refugee would not spoke up about it fearing for their further solutions. So, where should a refugee go? A refugee approaches human trafficker and a refugee approaches insecure places of occupation but just for survival. Sometimes, a refugee inevitably walks through bridges where mocking, assaults and discrimination are still around. The path of a refugee will only be destined at a place where he/she will gain all his rights as a human.
February 09, 2009
8 months pregnant asylum-seeker woman and children detained in Malaysia Salai Eagle VOCR, March 2, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8 months pregnant, asylum-seeker woman from Burma and her two children were arrested in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, by Rela operation on 30th of January 2009. They have been detained in Semeyith detention camps in Malaysia. Pi Hoi Cer, 8 months pregnant belongs to Chin ethnicity from Burma. Her 13 years old daughter Par Iang Hnem and two years old son called Van Bawi Lian were also arrested together with pi Hoi Cer at their resident in Ampang, KL. As the woman’s relatives had reported about her details to Chin Refugee Center in KL, it is known that the center has requested UNHCR office in KL for further intervention for the women and children in the detention center. Furthermore, it has been known that UNHCR had already intervened for the asylum-seeker family in the detention and granted the opportunity to have registration. Ms. Sei Tin Lal who is supposed to depart to USA for resettlement of 5th of March was also arrested on 20th of February 2009. She has been detained in Lengang detention camps. She was arrested at Jalan Imbi. Nowadays refugees in Malaysia especially who are in Kuala Lumpur have been living in fear for night raids that has been constantly heard in different places of Kuala Lumpur. Peter, a Chin refugee from Burma said, “Last Saturday night, I was informed that there will be raid at our building that night, so I left my room and stayed at my friends for one night, but the raid did not happened actually.”
VOCR Weekly Newsletter is issued by VOCR News Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Page 2
VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 10)
VOCR met a Chin refugee patient in Kuala Lumpur Hospital Salai Ram Nun Cung VOCR, March 2, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pu Hme Ceu, a Chin refugee from Van Zang village, Thanthlang Township in Chin State was visited by VOCR at Chowkit in Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Pu Hme Ceu has been feeling kidney disease and lung T.B for more than 3 months.
February 09, 2009
Contact Us: VOCR News Group Email: [email protected], Phone: 006016-9160018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia VOCR weekly newsletter is issued and owned by VOCR news group which is an independent and nonprofit news service focusing on Burma political issues and the Chin refugees in Malaysia.
UNHCR Asked To Verify Status First Before Issuing Refugee Cards KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama)
He has been hospitalized at Kuala Lumpur Hospital since February 23, 2009 and he has treatment with his UNHCR document (RN 1236868). He is about 36 years old and is very thin because of his sickness.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was on Thursday urged to verify the actual status of people seeking asylum in Malaysia before issuing them refugee cards.
He has three children and they stay at Klang, about 70 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur. He arrived to Malaysia in 2006 and he was registered by UNHCR in 2007.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said this was to prevent indiscriminate issuing of refugee status that caused the country to be flooded with foreigners.
The wife and children arrived to Malaysia in 2008 but they still do not registered with UNHCR. His wife is very discomfort for her beloved husband because when blood donation is required, his wife has to sign for an agreement with a doctor but she does not have rights to sign, as she is undocumented. His wife said, “I feel very sad because we are facing financial problem so seriously as well as worrying for the arrest and detention while my husband is till in critical condition.” The doctor said, “He is in critical condition so we can assure only 50% for his recovery.” Since June 2008, UNHCR has stopped registration of family member and dependents of refugees to include in the principle applicants. It is believed that shortage of man power is the main cause of the delay. While waiting for registration, refugee families with young kids and women had been facing daily challenges and living in fear, as they are undocumented. The refugee families have been told by UNHCR office to give their names to their respective community offices in order to register their family members and dependents.
"Actually, those eligible to receive the card are political refugees. But the UNHCR likes to issue it to whoever asks for its help, including economic refugees. "My ministry hopes the UNHCR will evaluate the people seeking refugee status before issuing the cards. We do not want crime and social problems to proliferate here because of the actions of the UNHCR," he told reporters after holding a meeting on the hiring of foreign workers for employers here. Syed Hamid said this in commenting on the issue of illegal immigrants flooding the country and the crime and social problems that arise as a result. He also said the UNHCR often faulted the Home Ministry when the authorities took action against UNHCR refugees who committed crimes or broke the country's laws. "I hope the UNHCR as professional body will act according to the UN Charter.”
VOCR Weekly Newsletter is issued by VOCR News Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Page 3
VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 10) February 09, 2009 Christian Institutions Ordered To Close Down In Rangoon Cultivation allowed only after paying tax to Burmese Army Van Biak Thang Khonumthung News Chinland Guardian 25 February 2009 28 February, 2009 The Burmese Army authorities are not providing permission to clear forests and sow rice saplings without taking tax from the people in Chin state western Myanmar.
At least three Bible colleges and two orphanages have been ordered to shut down by the local SPDC authorities in Mingalardone Township, Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, Chinland Guardian has learned.
A report said that the Matupi based IB (304) has ordered all farmers to pay tax for rice cultivation to the tune of Kyat 20,000 per land as the military has already occupied the particular stretch in Ngala block.
In a letter issued on 24 February 2009 to orphanages and colleges, Chairman of the local SPDC asked the institutions to stop running if they do not possess the official permission and registration. Sources confirmed that one of the colleges has been ordered to close down even though it has got an official registration since 1970s. The local SPDC authorities accused that the colleges do not have permission from the government and that the place and building are not meant for religious activities. A Chin pastor and activist, Rev. Shwekey Hoipang said: "As we all have already known, most of the churches, mission organisations, orphanages and para-churches have been closed and sealed recently by the military regime. It is an ongoing crackdown on Christian growth in Burma and is a careful strategy and plan of the regime." Sources claimed that the SPDC authorities carry out their repressive crackdown from one township to another, targeting Christians and their activities in Rangoon and that it is likely that this will soon go beyond the former capital city throughout the whole country.
“The land belonged to our ancestors. But the military has seized it and added it to its territory as it was very close to their camp. They came up with an excuse that their camp would be burnt if farmers set fire bushes to clean the area to sow rice seeds,” said a local. The settlers in Ngala block had already cleared over100 acres of the forest in January, but the military stopped them and asked them to pay tax first before cultivation. In Chin state, people are totally dependent on rice as it is their staple food. Now they are facing the problem of paying tax – money or rice -- to the authorities of the Matupi based military. They cannot survive without cultivating rice, he added. “The farmers do not have any rights without paying the tax. So we give all we have, whatever they demand from us,” he added. Similarly, the Forest Department in Falam has collected Kyat 2000 an acre from Auhmun, Palte, Laizawl, Tilum and Lumte villages as land and wood taxes in the first month of this year. A report said that the Falam District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) had told the Forest and Revenue Departments not to collect taxes on land and wood in 2008. But the collection continues in some villages, located far from the town.
The unnamed founder of one orphanage is said to be downhearted and very much concerned about his orphan children after the local authorities issued an order to send them back to places where they came from. Since December 2008, more than 100 churches in Rangoon's South Dagon and Pabedan townships have been shut down, about 50 pastors forced to sign the documents promising to stop holding church services, and 80 per cent of churches in Rangoon affected, according to a report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Some local Christians believe that the immediate cause of the oppressive measures is church involvement in relief provision for victims of Cyclone Nargis. In 2004, Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) published a report 'Religious Persecution: a Campaign of Ethnocide against Chin Christians in Burma' which revealed the military regime’s systematic persecutions against Chin Christians as part of a program to Burmanzie the Chin people and various acts of ethnocide against Chin Christians by trying to destroy the Chin religious and cultural identity.
VOCR Weekly Newsletter is issued by VOCR News Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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