Look into HRW report instead of denying it outright, govt told

 

A report by Human Rights Watch alleged appalling living conditions, lack of medical care, and instances of torture and abuse, at immigration detention centres.

PETALING JAYA: A human rights activist has urged the government to investigate the allegations of torture and abuse in detention centres rather than deny the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) from the outset.

Bangkok-based John Quinley of Fortify Rights said perpetrators, including those who have abused refugees in immigration depots nationwide, must be held accountable for their actions.

“The HRW Report is important to push the Malaysian government to end the indefinite detention of refugees. (Putrajaya) must investigate the allegations of torture and ill-treatment outlined in the report,” he told FMT.

Quinley’s remarks follow the release of a HRW report on March 6 which alleged human rights violations and abuse in immigration detention centres in Malaysia.

The report, based on interviews with 43 former detainees, alleged appalling living conditions, lack of medical care, and instances of torture and abuse, allegedly resulting in “many” deaths.

The report claimed that women and children were also subjected to abuse and neglect, with over 1,400 children detained, two-thirds of whom were unaccompanied or separated from their families and often detained with unrelated adults.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had questioned the credibility of the report, raising doubts over HRW’s sources and urging the group to specify the locations of these centres.

Adrian Pereira.

Another human rights activist, Adrian Pereira, urged Saifuddin to provide the latest statistics of children relocated from the immigration depots to temporary shelters.

“We don’t know what is the (current) capacity of this Baitul Mahabbah. So, it’s the minister’s job to give answers,” he said, in response to Saifuddin saying he knew “the exact number of children” in each detention centre.

Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das defended the credibility of HRW’s report, saying the group does not produce findings based on“assumptions and hearsay” having worked with them over many years.

Glorene Das.

“Everything that is highlighted in the report is not something new or shocking for us at Tenaganita, because of our own experience over the last three decades in our work with migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees.”

Meanwhile, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Yante Ismail said the agency was concerned about the detained individuals in immigration detention centres.

She said the UNHCR was ever ready to assist the government in coming up with alternatives to detention, especially for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, such as children and the elderly. - FMT