More recently, on March 12, Rela conducted a raid in Jalan Imbi, a neighborhood known to be home to a large number of Burmese nationals - mostly asylum-seekers and refugees from Chin State. The Chin Refugee Center is also located in Jalan Imbi. According to the Chinland Guardian,
"The raid began around 1:00 am and continued for several hours. Forty-eight Chin asylum seekers from Burma, including ten women, have been taken to Seminyah detention camp, where they will await deportation.At least one other individual with a valid passport was also arrested but later released in the raid. The BBC has a report of two American men who were accosted and arrested while on vacation by individuals in plainclothes who refused to identify themselves. The article doesn't mention anything about the Rela, but it's not much of a stretch to figure that out.
Among those arrested and detained is, Salai Ni Kio, a resettled refugee visiting from Denmark on valid travel documents. According to our sources, the Malaysian authorities have confiscated his travel documents and are refusing to release him. The Danish Embassy has been notified about the situation."
What is most disturbing about this crackdown, though, is accompanying comments from Malaysian ministers. Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh, the Home Affairs Minister, criticized the UNHCR for getting in the way of Rela and immigration and their efforts to crack down on illegal migrants, while Foreign Minister Syed Hamid said that Malaysia will not recognize refugees, claiming the rejection is "economic, not political".
"If we recognise refugees, we could open the floodgates and encourage them to come here just to escape economic hardship in their own country," he said in response to an Associated Press report on the United Nations calling on Malaysia to stop thinking of refugees as migrants and criminals.
"In the first place, we never treated them as criminals. They are illegal immigrants as they don't have proper documents. This is different from being a criminal," he said. [Daily Express]
If midnight raids, beatings, overcrowded detention centers, possible canings, or worse, are how Malaysian officials treat people who aren't criminals, then the law-abiding citizens of Malaysia may want to watch their backs.
If the ministers are so concerned about economics, perhaps they should consider the consequences of their plans to deport every last illegal immigrant and refugee alike. Asylum-seekers and refugees aren't fleeing to Malaysia, they are fleeing from somewhere else. They end up in Malaysia for a variety of reasons. Even if you round them all up and deport them, whether to the border, or to their homes, they will only come back. They have no choice - that's what it means to be a refugee. So is spending tax-payer money on overcrowded detention centers and rounding up the same people year after year really more economically sound than just letting the UNHCR do it's job, and maybe even giving refugees the right two work until alternative solutions are found? After all, someone has to build those shiny towers in Putrajaya for the ministers to work in.
The Malaysian government has created an immigration policy that is driven by xenophobia and racism, and they are carrying it out with no accountability. They fully understand that refugees and 'economic' migrants are not the same thing, but the fact is they don't care - they feel economic interests are more important than basic human rights. Despite that they've offered no factual evidence to back up their claims about illegal migrants being bad for the economy. Illegal migrants get paid substandard wages, have no access to public services, and often end up paying more for things when they have no legal recourse against scammers. All of these factors add up to more profit for Malaysian companies.
The Home Affairs Minister seems to think he has the support of the Malaysian people in all of this, too. "The members of the public think that Rela is doing a good job. Citizens are very happy with Rela. Only those harbouring illegals are not happy" [Jelas.info]
In my short time in Kuala Lumpur, I met many Malaysians who weren't harboring illegals who are very unhappy with Rela. There was the owner of a Chinese restaurant who herself had been arrested and harassed by Rela after she protested the arrest of two legal, documented staff members. There was a taxi driver who served the refugee community, providing credit and free rides for people in cases of emergency. There were plenty of ordinary Malaysians who often expressed support for the refugee community and frustration with the unchecked power of Rela. Not all Malaysians hate foreigners, DS Radzi.
This is one of those cases where public and international pressure is the only thing that will make a difference. Malaysians especially need to take a stand against their government's and Rela's abuse of power and violent tactics.
Below are more links to stories about this situation, and I'll follow up this post with information and addresses to write letters appealing this situation.
UN Urges Malaysians to stop looking at refugees as criminals: International Herald Tribune
Recognise UNHCR role in Malaysia: Aliran
M'sia won't recognise refugees: Daily Express
Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and reports of abuse by Rela - belligerence, insensitivity, illogicity: Jelas.info
Malaysia Fears burden of Refugees: Houston Chronicle
Hunting Malaysia's illegal migrants: BBC
Umma not adequate for migrants in Malaysia: Asia Center for Human Rights
Far from family, young female refugees from Myanmar find friendship: UNHCR
Statement from Amnesty International Malaysia
Incidents may mar Malaysia's tourism bid: BBC
Suhakam: Rela volunteers must be strictly vetted: Suaram
RELA Raids Continue in Malaysia: Chinland Guardian
Human Rights Group Denounces Detention of Babies and Vulnerable Refugees in Malaysia: Chinland Guardian