Burmese refugees ‘beaten up’ in detention camp
Malaysia kini news by Soon Li Tsin | Jun 25, 08
The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has confirmed that immigration officers had badly beaten up three Burmese refugees at the Semenyih detention camp two nights ago.
MCPX
Commissioner N Siva Subramaniam, who visited the detention camp yesterday, said the incident had been sparked off by the discovery of tobacco, deemed a contraband item under camp rules.
“The immigration officers fail to understand that the refugees are also human beings and must be treated as such.”He lambasted Rela for
indiscriminately arresting even documented refugees causing many of them to be detained unnecessarily.According a recently released international
report, Malaysia is one of the worst places in the world for refugees.
“After finding (it), immigration officers beat three Burmese refugees on the head with shoes and stepped on their thighs and legs. The (detainees) showed me marks where they were hit,” he told Malaysiakini.
“We take this incident very seriously as this is not the first time that such things have happened.”
The commissioner also said the Burmese trio were not taken to a hospital but were only given basic medical treatment by the immigration officers.
Siva claimed that Rela (people’s volunteer corps) personnel are often guilty of selling tobacco to the detainees and Suhakam wants to look into how this can be stopped.
The commission has sent a letter with its findings to the Home Ministry and awaits action by the government.
Asked to confirm that a riot had occurred after the incident, Siva replied in the negative and said the commotion was only caused by detainees shouting during the incident.
However, lawyer Latheefa Koya said she received information that a riot had occurred after Siva left the camp, but that she was unable to confirm this with the authorities there.
Attempts by Malaysiakini to contact the detention camp were unsuccessful.
‘Shortage of personnel’
Siva said the main reason why such incidents occur is because there is a shortage of immigration officers in the camp.
“There are so many problems there (but) 70 percent of vacancies have not been (filled). The majority (who are) recruited and posted to the detention camp do not understand what human rights are,” he said.
“The immigration officers fail to understand that the refugees are also human beings and must be treated as such.”
He lambasted Rela for indiscriminately arresting even documented refugees causing many of them to be detained unnecessarily.
According a recently released international report, Malaysia is one of the worst places in the world for refugees.
Immigration detention centres have been criticised for the poor living conditions and treatment of those detained.
Both Suhakam and human rights groups have long criticised the harsh treatment, overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food and medical facilities in such camps.
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Malaysia among 10 worst places for refugees | brcsm
Filed under: Blogging, Burma, Burmese, English Article, Human Rights, Islam, Myanmar, Myanmar Military, Politics, SPDC | Tagged: Burmese Refugees, Burmese refugees 'beaten up' in detention camp, Human Rights, Human Rights violations, Immigrants, Malaysia, Malaysia detention camp, Malaysia Home Ministry, Malaysia Immigration, Migrants, Refugees, Rela
