STOP ARREST OF Press Statement of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia: Stop arrest of BURMESE refugees

Press Statement of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia: Stop arrest of Myanmar refugees

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 05:16pm

STOP ARREST OF BURMESE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. RELEASE REFUGEES IN DETENTION AS SIGN OF COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF BURMA. ROUNDED UP: Malaysian police keeping a close eye on detainees from Myanmar at the holding camp in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan. Some 60 illegals rioted and set fire to a building on Monday. The recent riot by the Burmese political refugees in Lenggeng Detention Camp shows the frustration of refugees as there are no solution to refugees issues. The Malaysian government has continued the Crackdown against refugees and on the other hand there is no development to their application to resettle in the third countries. Since the situation in Burma has become worse, we really hope that the Malaysian government stop the arrest of refugees. The continuous arrest of refugees cause crowdedness in the detention camps throughout the country and it would not solve the root cause. There are refugees in the detention camp awaiting the intervention by UNHCR for the past 3 to 4 years. They do not want to be deported as they will be arrested and detained again and again. Many of these refugees suffer from depression as they have stayed for a lengthy time at the detention camps and the uncertainty of their future. While we appeal to the Malaysian government to stop the arrest on refugees, we also hope UNHCR to actively dialogue with resettlement countries to accept more refugees regardless of ethnic, race, religion & etc. Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia, calls on the Prime Minister, Y.A.B Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi:- 1) To stop the arrest of refugees and asylum seekers in the country 2) To release all refugees who are currently detained in the various detention camps. 3) To give them temporary document to continue their stay in Malaysia while their resettlement being processed. 4) To stop deportation to Thailand Border as it will only put their lives in great danger. 5) To add pressure on Junta to restore Democracy in Burma - (ASEAN) Yours sincerely, Mr. Zafar Ahmad Haji Abdul Ghani President of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) Penthouse, Wisma MLS No. 31 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman 50100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Tel: 603. 26913691 / 26973671 Fax: 603. 26913681 H/P: 6016- 6827287, Web: http://merhrom.wordpress.com Email: rights4rohingya@yahoo.co.uk