Amnesty International Malaysia calls on the Malaysian government to review its policy on the non recognition of Burmese refugees in Malaysia following the recent cyclone disaster and worsening humanitarian and human rights crises in Burma. As an ASEAN member and particularly the United Nations Human Rights Council, the government must be strongly committed in upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and be responsive to crises happening in the region.
The government in its response to provide assistance to Burma must not ignore its responsibility and commitment to the rights and humanitarian needs of thousands of refugees who fled human rights violations and persecution in Burma seeking protection right here in our country. The Malaysian government must take note that Burmese refugees continue to face arrest, detention, prosecution and deplorable living conditions here in Malaysia as a result of the government’s refusal to recognise and protect refugees and to treat them as illegal immigrants.
AI Malaysia would also like to remind the Malaysian government that refugee concerns are not merely a national concern but an international concern and therefore crucial for Malaysia to respond positively to the plight of the Burmese refugees during this humanitarian crisis of the region.
We call on the Malaysian government to provide temporary protection to all Burmese refugees in Malaysia and to immediately halt all arrest, detention, prosecution and deportation of Burmese refugees on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. It is time that Malaysia demonstrates its political will on its commitment to humanitarian and human rights concerns as an ASEAN member and in the spirit of regional solidarity.
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