228 Burmese Asylum Seekers and Refugees Arrested by RELA

SUARAM is informed that 228 asylum seekers and refugees from Burma were arrested in an operation by the Malaysian Immigration and RELA (People’s Voluntary Corps) raid today (25 June 2007). About 2.00am, the joint force raided the Chin Refugee Centre and Chin communities at Jalan Imbi and Jalan San Peng, Kuala Lumpur.

Most of the detainees are recognised as refugees by the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR). Among them, 30 people are underaged, 5 are pregnant women and 10 are people who will be sent to the United States of America tomorrow for resettlement. Chin refugee leader U Sang was also among those arrested.   more »

Malaysian newspaper The Star has a great article about Kachin refugees in Malaysia, in honor of World Refugee Day. It's a pleasant departure from the typical articles focusing on the negative conditions of refugees - the jungle camps and overcrowded apartments - and does a good job of reflecting the personality and character of those interviewed. They also have a related article about a new class being held for the Kachin children.

A tidbit from the first article for you:

Unlike most of his countrymen, Kam Li is fluent in English and was able to represent his community in encounters with the locals.

“The name ‘leader’ is high-sounding but my work is really at the ground level. I go to the different settlements, I bring the sick to the clinic, look into the education programme and the welfare of the pregnant women and such.

“Sometimes our people are detained at the police station. These people are from my community, and I’m their leader so I have to go and explain their situation. Some police do not even know what UNHCR is,” says Kam Li who holds a UNHCR card that identifies him as a refugee entitled to protection under the international human rights law.

I am now missing my friends. Go read the article, and if you know a refugee, wish them a happy day and give them a hug.

Last week I posted a comment over at Burma Digest on a post about the AEIOU program. AEIOU is an open university program for Burmese nationals, and is based in Chiang Mai. Part of the requirements of the program is that students return to their communities for study and work for part of the year. You can read the full post and comment here. Given the number of undocumented refugees from Burma living in Thailand, I was curious as to how they could meet such requirements, if they were unable to return to their own communities, or had no 'community' in their current situation. Professor Kanbawza Win sent me a personal reply, which is copied in its entirety below.   more »

Dated: 18th June 2007

We, the Kachin National Organization, strongly condemn the recent State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) order to demolish the Bum San Kachin Baptist Church, located near the 105-mile gate office in Muse, Northern Shan State of Burma. The SPDC confiscated many Church buildings and lands, and restricted religious freedom in Burma for several decades. We appeal to the SPDC to dismiss its order to remove Bum San Kachin Baptist Church and to return all confiscated Churches and Church lands to the respective church bodies. We also ask SPDC to treat Christians and people of other religions on equal footing; and to fully abide by the laws and respect freedom of religion in Burma.

Whilst the Christian Solidarity Worldwide released a report highlighting the religious persecutions and discriminations against Christians and other religions in Burma, the SPDC bluntly denies any existence of such violations in Burma. The SPDC even forcefully asked the religious bodies to sign false declaration saying that they are enjoying full religious freedom. We have several evidences that the SPDC officials approached the religious leaders concerned to sign the confession papers. Contrary to the SPDC's claim, the recent act by the Burmese military government to demolish Bum San Kachin Baptist Church is purely a violation of religious freedom in Burma.

We, the Kachin National Organization warns the SPDC that your current treatment to other religions would create more consequences in Burma similar to that of U Nu's era. Many Kachin Christian believers joined Kachin Independent movement when U Nu bluntly declared Buddhism as a state religion for Burma. The history will repeat itself unless Burmese junta fully accepts co-existence and ethnicity diverse in the Union Of Burma.

Finally, we urge all Kachin Christians to protect our churches by all means and Christian from all over the world to condemn Burmese military junta’s fascist policy.



The Central Committee
Kachin National Council
Kachin National Organization


Contact for further information:

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