Cremation of the Zomi Christian Refugees
The Zomis are mostly Christians and they do not practice cremation. However,
in some cases, they could not effort to pay for the place to bury and hence, they were
cremated finally. It is a great challenge for the Christians not able to effort to find a place to bury.
Another Death and Accident
Many vulnerable Zomi refugees die at young age.
A young man, Taang died of falling from the work place ladder.
There was no taker and the brothers don't even know whom to report and what to do
with the corp. They were able to contact the Zomi leaders a day after his death...
Death of Zomi Refugees in Exile
Death of Zomi Refugees in Exile.
Accident and Death occurs among the Zomi-Myanmar Refugees in Exile.
Panglong Agreement
Panlong Agreement; Zomi Myanmar History with Boggyoke Aung San of Burma.
Vulnerabilities of the Zomi Refugees from Myanmar
A Zomi refugee got an accident by spilling acid at his work place but given not compensation by the boss. He was brought to the hospital by the Zomi Association of Malaysia leaders in KL.
Breaking News: Myanmar Refugees were beaten by the Immigration Officers
Breaking News:
ဳKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
More than 30 Refugees from Myanmar were tied up and severely beaten by the detention authorities at Samenyith immigration deportation camp just the outskirt of Kua Lumpur, Malaysia.
Some are believed to be the Zomi ethnic group of Myanmar according to the SMS we've received 10 minutes ago from the a reliable source.
It is believed that the UNHCR legal lawyers and Malaysia BAR Council are following up with this case as soon as possible.
As of end May 2008, there are some 3700 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia.
-35100 are form Myanmar comprising 13300 Rohingyas from the Northern Rakkhine State of Myanamr, 13300 from Chin State, Myanmar and 3900 Myanmar Muslims and 3900 while the remaining are other ethnic minorities from Myanmar.
There are some 4600 refugees and asylum-seekers from other countries, including some 1800 Sri Lankans, 580 Iraqis and 470 Somalis.
68% of Refugees and Asylum-seekers are men, while 32% are women.
There are some 10000 refugee children below the age of 18, among whom 6000 are of school going age (7-17) years.
Quoted from the UNHCR
A True Spirit of World Refugee Day
A True Spirit of World Refugee Day
The World Refugee Day was celebrated under the leadership of ACTS, funded by JRS Singapore while gathering various patients, children, multi cultural ethnic groups and different refugee organizations at Batu Arang. Two representatives from each group and organization which made up to more than 150 congregation including local and international partners at the celebration on Sunday, June 22, 2008 from 10:00-5:30 P.M.
The first session of the gathering started with observation and silence prayer for the Naris Cyclone victims of Myanmar nationals, the Myanmar authorities as well as for the Myanmar refugees in Malaysia. Each group representative presented their traditional song and dance wearing their native attire. It was not only a day of observation but rather it was more of celebration to uplift the moral and physical depression and stress. It was such a beautiful gathering as no discrimination had taken place and no favoritism was given to any group by another realizing the equality of human being. During the gathering service, the patients and refugee children enjoyed it as they even forgot their status being a refugee and patients. No other activities can replace this memorable gathering under the leadership and initiation of A-Call-To-Serve organization in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Giving Hope, Giving Life= Creating their WorldZomi Myanmar Refugees were charged under Section 6 (3) by the Immigration of Malaysia
The Star Online > Nation Sunday June 15, 2008
Village of illegals exposed
KUALA LUMPUR: A community of illegal immigrants living in a forest near Taman Desa, Kepong, was uncovered by Immigration officers who arrested 48 people, mostly from Myanmar.
There were eight women among them aged between 20 and 37 years. City Immigration Department director Mohd Khamdee Khuzaini Tukiman said they were detained yesterday morning after two years of surveillance.
He said 66 people from four departments, including the Immigration Department, Rela, Civil Defence Force (JPA3) and National Registration Department took part in the operations.
In the 11.30am raid, the enforcement officers posed as construction engineers who trekked 15 minutes into the jungle before reaching the village.
Some of the immigrants were cooking and did not realise the impending raid.
But once they realised what was happening, most of them gave up without a struggle, though a few dashed into the nearby forests to avoid capture.
“They built make-shift shacks to live in, two kitchens to cook their meals and even a place of worship. A large water tank was also found nearby,” Mohd Khamdee said.
He said the village, believed to have been set up a year ago, housed immigrants who worked in nearby factories.
“We also received information from the public that on Saturdays up to 150 Myanmar nationals from nearby areas who would meet in the village to party,” Mohd Khamdee added.
Several objects, which could have been used as weapons, were also seized in the raid.
He said all of them had no documentation and would be sent to the Semenyih detention depot while waiting to be charged with violating Section 6 (3) of the Immigration Act.
He advised locals not to employ and protect illegal immigrants and urged them to call the respective state immigration departments if they had any information on illegal immigrants in their areas.
source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/15/nation/21558704&sec=nation
Note:
| Section 6(3) Immigration Act 1959/63 | ||
| | A foreign visitor whose presence in Malaysia can be interpreted as illegal entry if : | |
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| | The penalty for an offence on illegal entry : | |
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| | As such foreign visitors are reminded :- | |
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Fraudulent has its ways as usual among Burma Refugees in Malaysia
Fraudulent has its ways as usual among Burma Refugees in Malaysia
The CRC (chin refugee center) send out SMS (text messages) saying that the UNHCR will come to Genting Highland Camp for registration on June 13, 2008. Due to the news wide spread among the refugees in KL areas, the depressed and ignored Zomis who are from Chin State came to the camp spending hundreds of money for their taxi fares hoping that they will have a change to be included for the registration if the said news were true. However, those who rushed up to the camp were asked to contribute Rm. 30 each by the so called Chin refugee committee who spread the news. The leaders said “if the UNHCR would not come to the camp you all are donating for the committee, and if they do come you are exchanging the registration with Rm. 30 only” said a witness who was the victim of vague news.
In this regard, the UNHCR service is FREE OF CHARGE and, the UNHCR never tells anyone of when and where they will take registration. It is still unclear of who in the world would ask money for UNHCR registration because the interviewee (Tanng Mung) does not believe that the UHNCR would charge money for every new registration they will do in the jungle camp as well as in other areas they according to their procedure.
However, the sad thing is that those who chased after this incident don’t even know how this case has sprung up and who is responsible for the wrong information. It is naturally deceivable for the refugees who are have been spending waiting for UNHCR recognition for many years in the camp. Receiving such misleading information resulted into loose of money for the refugees especially the Zomis as it is not the first time. It has been happening from time to time to add stress and depression to the helpless Zomi refugees. The culprit behind this treat is still not known as of this date. However, one thing for sure is that that person has access to the UNHCR office/ officer, which has the ability to mislead the Zomi refugees. One thing strange about this incident is that those who chased after the wrong information are all Zomis.
On Friday, June 13, 2008 the UNHCR did not come to Genting Highland camp but rather one correspondence called Paul Rung Er Ling, from the Chin Refugee Center and another white woman were in the camp in front of the refugees. They convinced and promised that they will give UNHCR registration when they come again.
The Zomi Human Rights Network strongly condemned such activities in untruthful manner which misguides the poor and helpless Zomi refugees. The vulnerable Zomi refugees face security concern for such activities on their way and the worst thing is that they lost their money for nothing which they hardly earn or borrow from other people from their day to day survival. The ZHRN including various Zomi organizations and Zomi worldwide will continue to protect the helpless Zomi refuges from such fraudulent treats in the future as it embraces the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
News Alert: Raid of Zomi Refugee Camp Saturday, June 14, 2008
News Alert: Raid of Zomi Refugee Camp (Saturday, June 14, 2008)
There are more than 10000 Zomi Refugees who fled from fear of persecution, prosecution, religious and racial discrimination in Malaysia. They hardly survive their day-to-day living. Many of them stay in the jungle camp for lack of enough money to survive. They face various treat of life and security concern from raid by the authorities.
On Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 12:00 Noon, the RELA raided the Zomi refugee camp Wangsa Permai (Kepong) while the only hope they have on a day to day basis is the security protection of the UNHCR. There were 30 people including, patients, women and children were arrested while the rest (the stronger and faster people) of 40 out of 70 were able to run for their life in the deeper forest.
According to the recent SMS we received 5 minutes ago said, 30 of them were taken to Kota Damansara police station, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Malaysia authorities raided 18 Zomi refugees including women, minor (children under age), and patients a month ago in April of this year. They were wrongly accused of “Lenggeng camp” fire incident and, were beaten to blood, tortured and treated inhumanly. The pain and suffering of what the Zomi refugees went through in both physically as well as emotionally tumor is in their heart, while this incident doubles the suffering, pain and fear by the Zomi refugees living in Malaysia. However, according to a reliable source among those refugees, the UNHCR have not taken protection for those detained and vulnerable refugees.
“We are not sure of how the UNHCR will respond to today’s incident both to the 30 arrested Zomi refugees as well as those vulnerable people who managed to escape in the jungle spread out here and there” said a 40-year old Zomi refugee woman.
She added that “we have no clue of how to keep in contact with our relatives deep in the jungle as they run for their life in the strange forest.” It would be easy for me if they were arrested by the authority because we’re sure that they are somewhere in the detention camp or in the jail but we now, are worry more for their life in the deep jungle as we have no contact with them while tears.
There are more than ten thousands of Zomi refugees and other ethnic minorities in Malaysia; the UNHCR is the only International Body to protect the vulnerable refugees because Malaysia did not sign the 1951 Refugee Convention. The UNHCR-Malaysia is the only possible source to give hand and protect the refugees but due to low process, skipping for the Zomi and long queue of vulnerable refugees waiting for refugee recognition in the dangerous jungle camps and any other places they find for survival.
Photos: This is how Zomi refugees in Malay are spending their live for day-to-day survival.
Death of a Rejected Zomi Refugee for Family Inclusion
Attach photo is "Pu Thang Khan Thawng" infront of the UNHCR office 1 day before he passed away. He was queued up for "Family Inclusion' registration for his family since January 08 until today. However, the UNHCR policy (according to the officer with an eye witness) accepts only 25% of Zomi out of all who queued up at the office on June 3, 2008 under the heavy sun. The Zomis presume that if the UNHCR grant registration fairly just as they give to other refugee communities; Pu Thang would not face a sudden shock.
The vulnerable Zomi refugees took the risk of the authority and they came along for the first time Zomi family inclusion for the refugee registration on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. It is the first time ever for Zomi refugees in Malaysia to have a chance of “family inclusion” by the UNHCR. Pu Thang was one among them who lined up with the Zomi crowd on Tuesday. Upon hearing the rejection of the Zomis’ “family inclusion,” Pu Thawng left shaking his body with red face angrily when THE OFFICER announced their rejection of the Zomi Refugee that seems to be discrimination and favoritism in the application on June 3, 2008.
“Many Zomi Refugees who fled for their life in Malaysia seeking for asylum have deceases like high blood pressure, heart attack and mental health problem etc. due to sudden death, treat of life and fear on a day to day survival even in Malaysia,” said a Doctor who treat medication and counseling for the Zomi refugees.”
Burial Service : Cheras Cemetery
Time : 1:00 P.M
Bus : 12:00 P.M (1 Bues from ZAM, another from May Bank)
Day : Friday, June 6, 2008
Name : Pu Thang Khan Thawng
Age : 62
Clan : Hatlangh
POB : Anlangh, Zogam
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