Yesterday 20-6-2010 was World Refugee Day. A day before, 19-6-2010 was the 65th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma.
World leaders and thousands of supporters honored Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on her 65th birthday, June 19 according to exiled media Democratic Voice of Burma. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in Burma for nearly 15 years. Burma under Junta has been one of the largest exporter of refugee and source of IDP in Asia. Let us remember Burma and Aung San on World Refugee Day 2010, a call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and return to democracy for Burma.
As World Refugee Day gets under way, UNHCR appeals for the displaced
News Stories, 20 June 2010
GENEVA, June 20 (UNHCR) – As millions of people around the globe were marking World Refugee Day on Sunday, UNHCR chief António Guterres called on the international community to do more for the forcibly displaced.
High Commissioner made his call during a press conference in Syria – broadcast on a live video link – where he met earlier in the day with President Bashar Assad and other top leaders. Syria hosts about 1 million mainly Iraqi refugees, according to the government.
"I appeal to the international community to do more to host refugees," Guterres said just two days after the UN refugee agency announced that 100,000 Iraqi refugees have been referred for resettlement from the Middle East to third countries since 2007, a major milestone for one of the world's largest refugee populations.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, also made an appeal on behalf of refugees in a special World Refugee Day (WRD) message. "Refugees have been deprived of their homes, but they must not be deprived of their futures," he said, while calling for working with host governments to deliver services and for intensified efforts to resolve conflicts so that refugees can return home.
With "Home," as this year's global theme, UNHCR and its partners, including governments, donors, non-governmental organizations, goodwill ambassadors and refugees themselves, have been taking part over the past week in awareness-raising, cultural, educational, environmental and sport activities, especially football tournaments in this year of the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Special messages from Guterres and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who met Colombian refugees in northern Ecuador last week, have been broadcast around the world. Jolie, Guterres and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took part in a global live event on Friday linking four countries.
.........
UNHCR's main event in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur literally stopped traffic at KL Sentral, the largest train station in Southeast Asia. Huge crowds came to watch and take part in the activities, including a simulated refugee experience in a maze-like structure. Visitors faced the same difficult choices as refugees fleeing persecution or violence as they tried to find a way out.
The event included other reality experiences aimed at raising awareness about the life of a refugee. There was also a handicrafts bazaar and cultural performances. Local celebrities and performers lent their support to the event.
By Leo Dobbs in Geneva
(extract from http://www.unhcr.org/4c1e47006.html)
Personally I remember my refugee friends in Burma/Thai border, especially the children .....this is another Refugee Day, 65th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, another year has gone, and no sign of returning to democracy in their homeland. The date for returning to their home land is still unknown. What happen to the international voices and their political power? the degree of their concern is lesser than Tibet or Iraq? or will it be facing the same fate as like Nagaland or East Timor? Burma has no strategic oil deposit, nor political advantage to be used for international political game?.....
Poor Burma.....How long must they wait ....
Ironically during my visit to USA, I have opportunity to meet some ex-Vietnamese refugee in USA. Most of them have built their life in the new country, many will not return to their home country. They have been staying in their host country(now their home country) longer than their original home country, Vietnam.
Will the tribal refugee in Burma/Thai border having the opportunity as the former Vietnamese refugee? or forever remain as IDP?......
Nobody know, only God know....
Showing posts with label Refugee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Refugee. Show all posts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
Support their work at http://www.refugeesinternational.org/...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Chin Refugee in Malaysia
There are more than 27000 Chin refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia of which two third of them are not registered by UNHCR office and hiding in jungles and staying separately in urban areas in fear of authority detection and arrest. Since Malaysia is not UN signatory on Refugee Convention, all refugees are arrested as illegal immigrants. To get matter worse, male refugees are caned before they are deported to Thai border. Many women refugees in Malaysia who were arrested and deported to Thai border face serious abuse by human smuggler ring based at the border.
Although UNHCR is the only home refugees can approach for documentation, UNHCR does not register most asylum-seekers which left thousands of Chin asylum-seekers as undocumented aliens in Malaysia. For a person without any kind of document, it is very difficult to approach hospitals and clinics in time of illness. Unregistered refugee are illegal immigrant in Malaysia.
The recent announcement by the Home Ministry of Malaysia to issue Identification for refugee is a good news for the refugee, as they will recognized with refugee status. We anticipated that the difficult situation will changed for better.
Who are the Chin People?
The Chin are one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Myanmar (the Chin State) and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries' intervention, 80%-90% of the population are Christians. However, a sizable minority of the Chin adhere to their traditional tribal beliefs, as well as to Theravada Buddhism. A small group of individuals from Mizoram claimed that they are one of the lost tribes of Israel, that of Bnei Menashe tribe, some have since resettled in that country.
The Chin are one of the large ethnic minority groups in Myanmar. The Chin people are of Tibeto-Burman groups and they probably came to Myanmar, especially the Chindwin valley in the late 9-10 century A.D. Most Chin people moved westward and they probably settled in the present Chin State around 1300-1400 A.D
Why they leave the country?
Chin people are leaving their home-town on a daily basis, the population is decreasing year by year. Human Rights Watch documents a wide range of human rights abuses carried out by the Burmese army and government officials. The abuses include forced labor, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, religious repression and other restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Now most Chin people are suffering the effects of famine, which was brought by bamboo flowering in the state leading to multiplication of rats. Crops have been destroyed by rats, flies and bugs since late 2006.
People are also suffering not only from diseases. Due to the onset of famine, Chin people cannot purchase even mosquito nets, sometimes they are going without food all day long. Most of them are suffering from malaria as they sleep without mosquito nets at night. Some are suffering from gastric since they have been eating roots and leaves.
The teenagers cannot attend formal school as they have to work in other countries for their livelihood as refugee, most of time as illegal refugee. The local leader and pastors are telling Chin people not to leave. The population of Chin State has been decreasing annually, especially after 1989.
Chin people leave for Malaysia, India and other countries like USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark and Australia.
Documentary film: Refugee for sale in Malaysia, documentary by a local TV(in Chinese)
As a member of Asean countries; and neighbor of Myanmar; it is time we give our helping hands to the refugee from Burma, regardless of race and religion. At the same time we hope that political pressure from the world will forced Myanmar's Junta to give power back to civilian government elected by people. This will solved the refugee problem when the livelihood of the people are secured and life become stable.
Related articles
1. "brain food" - Series on the Chin refugee Children of Burma living in Malaysia ,http://www.redbubble.com/people/colinshafer/art/4403798-2-brain-food-series-on-the-chin-refugee-children-of-burma-living-in-malaysia
2. Chin Refugee Committee, http://crc.civiblog.org/blog
3. Chin Refugee Committee Malaysia, http://crcmalaysia.blogspot.com/
4. Without refuge: Chin refugees in India and Malaysia, http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR30/36-37.pdf
5. http://www.khonumthung.com/kng-news/09-news/church-leaders-politicians-request-chin-people
6. The Chin People of Burma: Unsafe in Burma, Unprotected in India, http://www.sacw.net/article565.html
Although UNHCR is the only home refugees can approach for documentation, UNHCR does not register most asylum-seekers which left thousands of Chin asylum-seekers as undocumented aliens in Malaysia. For a person without any kind of document, it is very difficult to approach hospitals and clinics in time of illness. Unregistered refugee are illegal immigrant in Malaysia.
The recent announcement by the Home Ministry of Malaysia to issue Identification for refugee is a good news for the refugee, as they will recognized with refugee status. We anticipated that the difficult situation will changed for better.
Who are the Chin People?
The Chin are one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Myanmar (the Chin State) and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries' intervention, 80%-90% of the population are Christians. However, a sizable minority of the Chin adhere to their traditional tribal beliefs, as well as to Theravada Buddhism. A small group of individuals from Mizoram claimed that they are one of the lost tribes of Israel, that of Bnei Menashe tribe, some have since resettled in that country.
The Chin are one of the large ethnic minority groups in Myanmar. The Chin people are of Tibeto-Burman groups and they probably came to Myanmar, especially the Chindwin valley in the late 9-10 century A.D. Most Chin people moved westward and they probably settled in the present Chin State around 1300-1400 A.D
Why they leave the country?
Chin people are leaving their home-town on a daily basis, the population is decreasing year by year. Human Rights Watch documents a wide range of human rights abuses carried out by the Burmese army and government officials. The abuses include forced labor, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, religious repression and other restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Now most Chin people are suffering the effects of famine, which was brought by bamboo flowering in the state leading to multiplication of rats. Crops have been destroyed by rats, flies and bugs since late 2006.
People are also suffering not only from diseases. Due to the onset of famine, Chin people cannot purchase even mosquito nets, sometimes they are going without food all day long. Most of them are suffering from malaria as they sleep without mosquito nets at night. Some are suffering from gastric since they have been eating roots and leaves.
The teenagers cannot attend formal school as they have to work in other countries for their livelihood as refugee, most of time as illegal refugee. The local leader and pastors are telling Chin people not to leave. The population of Chin State has been decreasing annually, especially after 1989.
Chin people leave for Malaysia, India and other countries like USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark and Australia.
Documentary film: Refugee for sale in Malaysia, documentary by a local TV(in Chinese)
As a member of Asean countries; and neighbor of Myanmar; it is time we give our helping hands to the refugee from Burma, regardless of race and religion. At the same time we hope that political pressure from the world will forced Myanmar's Junta to give power back to civilian government elected by people. This will solved the refugee problem when the livelihood of the people are secured and life become stable.
Related articles
1. "brain food" - Series on the Chin refugee Children of Burma living in Malaysia ,http://www.redbubble.com/people/colinshafer/art/4403798-2-brain-food-series-on-the-chin-refugee-children-of-burma-living-in-malaysia
2. Chin Refugee Committee, http://crc.civiblog.org/blog
3. Chin Refugee Committee Malaysia, http://crcmalaysia.blogspot.com/
4. Without refuge: Chin refugees in India and Malaysia, http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR30/36-37.pdf
5. http://www.khonumthung.com/kng-news/09-news/church-leaders-politicians-request-chin-people
6. The Chin People of Burma: Unsafe in Burma, Unprotected in India, http://www.sacw.net/article565.html
Friday, February 5, 2010
Refugee ID issued in Malaysia
The video was taken in late 2008. They should be happy now....
There are more than 27000 Chin refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia of which two third of them are not registered by UNHCR office and hiding in jungles and staying separately in urban areas in fear of authority detection and arrest. Since Malaysia is not UN signatory on Refugee Convention, all refugees are arrested as illegal immigrants. To get matter worse, male refugees are caned before they are deported to Thai border. Many women refugees in Malaysia who were arrested and deported to Thai border face serious abuse by human smuggler ring based at the border.
Although UNHCR is the only home refugees can approach for documentation, UNHCR does not register most asylum-seekers which left thousands of Chin asylum-seekers as undocumented aliens in Malaysia. For a person without any kind of document, it is very difficult to approach hospitals and clinics in time of illness.
Home Ministry: Refugees to be given ID
3-2-2010
Refugees recognized by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be issued identity cards, according to the Home Ministry.
"The ID would allow them to stay in the country temporarily and avoid arrest by immigrations officers," ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam told Malaysiakini.
It was reported that although the refugees will be issued ID cards, they are not allowed to engage in full time employment.
Mahmood said that the mechanism for the issuance of the ID has not been finalized.
"We are working closely with UNHCR to come out with the best methods in terms of implementation," he added.
UNHCR press officer Yante Ismail said the agency is pleased with the government's move to issue ID for these refugees.
"Proper documentation is essential for their protection," she said.
She said UNHCR is looking forward to further discussions with the Home Ministry to put into place with them a documentation system for refugees.
Gov't moving in right direction
Meanwhile, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said the government is moving towards the right direction with the plan to issue ID cards to refugees.
"We view this as a positive development towards the recognition of the right to seek asylum as enshrined in article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," said Suaram coordinator Temme Lee in a press release.
Nevertheless, she urged the government to allow refugees access to full time employment and earn a living while they are in Malaysia.
"The more than 75,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently registered with UNHCR is an existing source of labor.
"Instead of importing more migrant workers, the government should first exhaust existing sources of labor in the country," she added.
(source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/123586)
3-2-2010
SUARAM welcomes the announcement by the Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam on the Government’s plans to issue identification cards to refugees recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We view this as a positive development towards the recognition of the right to seek asylum as enshrined in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
However, SUARAM notes with disappointment that Mahmood Adam stated that the refugees “cannot work here, but they can do odd jobs” . Government must also allow refugees access to full-time work and earn a living while they remain in the country. The more than 75,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently registered with UNHCR is an existing source of labour. Instead of importing more migrant workers, the Government should first exhaust existing sources of labour in the country.
(source: http://www.suaram.net/node/268)
Our Home Ministry is moving in the right direction, I am sure refugee will be safer now, and not to be afraid of the harassment by RELA or the police. These refugee should be allow to work in Malaysia, given the work permit to them is the next logical step. It is better to give them work than to illegal immigrants seeking for economic prospect in Malaysia. After all Malaysia still need laborers and unskilled workers, and the large pool of resource is available. Control will be easier as identification have been given.
The refugee identification should be given regardless of race, religion, country; as long as they are granted refugee status by UNHCR. It should be based on solely humanitarian ground.
Anyhow, it is good news for the refugee; and good news for the image of Malaysia.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
World Refugee Day: Angelina Jolie calls for greater understanding
At an event marking the launch of activities for World Refugee Day on June 20, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie appeared today alongside UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres to call on the world to recognise millions of victims of conflict around the world not as a burden but as a potential gift.
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