We, Migrant Care of Republic of Indonesia, wish to express our serious concern about the announcement made by Hon. Dato Seri Radzi Sheik Ahmad on Malaysia cabinet decision to have RELA to take over the management of the Malaysia Immigration Detention Centers in Malaysia.
In April, a female Indonesian migrant worker, Suryani, 21 was handcuffted and raped continuously by a RELA member in Kajang has delivered a baby girl called Puteri Mangsa Rela (literally means Princess of RELA Victim). Another Indonesian housewife ES, was dragged from her house in Petaling Jaya by RELA, gang raped and then they sent her to Muar to be raped by Police officers.
Since 2002, the number of RELA abuse cases linked to Indonesian Migrant workers ranging from physical abuses, raped, broad daylight robbery and illicit collection of money for the release has been very rampant.
In February 2005, Malaysian parliament has given RELA the absolute power to carry out raids and arrests without the presence of the police and immigration officers has caused many absolute corruption and abuses of RELA power.
From January to August 1, 2007, RELA had conducted 3,925 operations and had captured 45,502 undocumented workers. Each RELA operation that involved almost 200 RELA that cost Malaysia tax payers RM 25,000 has only managed to arrest 12 undocumented workers.
Among the 523 arrested migrant workers we interviewed, both deported and released, confirmed that RELA demand a payoff of RM 200 per head for those who are undocumented and RM 100 per head for those whose travel document held by the employers. Sex for freedom has also been the demand by RELA.
RELA also tear the Migrant Workers’ passport to justify their claims that Migrant workers enter the country illegally.
The taking over of the immigration detention camp would create a serious human rights violations to the Migrant Workers, specifically Indonesian, whom has been the core target of RELA.
First they are given the power to conduct raids without supervision, then setting up of court in detention center, now RELA has been given “the task” to manage the detention center it could to the total conspiration to cover up the abuses caused by the black sheep among the RELA members.
We, urge Malaysia government to comply to the 1988 Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (UN General Assembly Resolution 43/173, of December 9, 1988) and the 1990 Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners (UN General Assembly Resolution 45/111, of 14 December 1990), which are considered customary norms and are therefore binding on all states.
It is also important for the sending country to voice out their concern by issuing a diplomatic note to Malaysia embassies to protest against the appointment of RELA to take over the role of professionally run prison department.
RELA’s total control of raiding, detention camp and close door court at the detention camp for immigration violations is potentially punishing immigration violations with serious crimes treatment.
The Malaysia Cabinet decision on the RELA power could lead to a serious threat to the regional security as RELA has already delivered many unfriendly gestures in its effort to protect the human trading cartel in Malaysia.
We urge the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to apply his diplomatic skill to influence H.E. Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from allowing RELA to destroy the Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral diplomatic relationship and Muslim brotherhood.
We also urge the International community, including OIC members, to participate in the constructive engagement effort in disbanding Abusive RELA unit  because Malaysia already has many civil defense units to take care of internal security matter.
Unit Pertanhanan Awam ( Civil defense ), Police volunteer reserve(PVR), Army voluntary reserve ( AVR), community neighborhood watchmen (Rukun Tetangga), Rakan Kop ( Friend of police), and many other social security organizations as an alternative to the abusive militia RELA unit.
Malaysia do not need to tarnish its international goodwill and its future international relation just to protect the Human Trading Cartel
Jakarta, December 6, 2007
Anis Hidayah                      Wahyu Susilo                   Alex Ong
Eksecutive Director            Policy Analyst                   Country Coordinator
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