Don't classify refugees as undocumented migrants, says NGO

 

Refugees in Malaysia are in fear of being deported to face persecution in their war-torn countries.

Alliance of Chin Refugees chairperson James Bawi Thang Bik said that the fear arises as some of the refugees and asylum seekers who hold United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cards, were arrested and lumped together with undocumented migrants.

They were hauled in during operations by immigration authorities in tandem with the movement control order (MCO) since March this year, and according to James, they were treated the same as undocumented migrants.

Based on figures by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), there are about 178,450 UNHCR refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia. More than half of the figure includes Rohingyas, while there are 22,440 Chins in the country.

"It has been brought to our knowledge that some refugees were arrested and deported on Nov 5, 2020, and there were many arbitrary arrests during the MCO.

"We hope there would be no repeats of such arrests and deportations although the government does not recognise asylum seekers and refugees," he said in a media conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

For the record, the Malaysian government does not recognise refugees and they are classified as "unauthorised migrants holding UNHCR cards."

Klang MP Charles Santiago, who was at the media conference, wants the government to explain the difference between refugees and undocumented migrants.

He wished to raise the matter in Parliament and to meet Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin to help the refugees from being deported.

"Clearly refugees are in a different category. They run from persecution and murder. But they were held together with undocumented migrants.

"When you deport refugees, death awaits them in their home country.

"On the other hand, when you deport undocumented migrants, they just return to blend in with our society," he said.

Charles Santiago

Charles stressed that the government contradicted itself when it welcomed Rohingyas to seek refuge in the country but they are now labelled as "illegal."

"They are not here to steal our land. If you ask them about their dream, it's to go back to their country once it achieves peace. They are here temporarily before moving out to a third country," he said.

Some of the refugees, he said, are scientists, engineers and lecturers who could help contribute to Malaysia while they are still here.

"But we (the authorities) look at them as posing a security threat," he said.

Meanwhile, James urged the UNHCR to expedite the registration process for undocumented refugees and asylum seekers especially for those who have applied online.

"Expediting the registration process is crucial to grant effective protection for refugees and asylum seekers, especially during the conditional lockdown periods," he said. - Mkini