Govt Reminded Of Int L Commitments After Detention Breakout Tragedy

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Putrajaya has been reminded of its obligations as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to not detain refugees and asylum seekers.
In a statement, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said it was "truly" appalling that Malaysia had done the exact opposite by detaining a large group of Rohingyas, including children, at the Sungai Bakap temporary immigration detention centre in Kedah.
"This strips away any of the government's credibility in the HRC, even more so since children were reportedly also part of those who were detained," said LFL.
Yesterday, 528 detainees at the temporary immigration detention centre broke free. Six, including two children, were killed in a road accident on North-South Expressway while making their escape.
Most of the detainees were Rohingyas - a community that has long faced persecution in southern Myanmar.
LFL said Malaysia should not be housing legitimate refugee and asylum seekers in the first place, let alone in cramped makeshift detention centres.
"The government must also immediately release all other refugees and asylum seekers from their detention centres to avoid this calamity from happening again.
"If Malaysia truly wishes to play a significant role in the HRC, the government must lead by example and treat the Rohingyas as victims, not offenders," said LFL.
‘Be transparent and accountable’
Subang MP Wong Chen also urged Putrajaya to be transparent and accountable for the operation of every temporary immigration detention centre.
"The most pressing issue now is to ensure that the re-arrested refugees are not mistreated and met with retributive punishments.
"In particular, Suhakam and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) should be given immediate access to the re-arrested refugees and also the full right to inspect the Sungai Bakap temporary detention depot.
"We have to ask the following fundamental questions; were the refugees in the depot given adequate shelter, food, health services and for the children, access to education?
"This reporting must also make recommendations on how to improve and the government must then implement these improvements immediately," said Wong.
Subang MP Wong ChenWong added that the incident should not be viewed as a one-off human tragedy but a serious policy wake-up call.
Wong also urged the Parliamentary Select Committee on Fundamental Liberties and Constitutional Rights to summon Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin to testify and answer some fundamental refugee policy issues.
"The minister has to answer as to why since August 2019, the government has stopped the UNHCR from having full access to refugees seeking asylum in Malaysia.
"The minister has to disclose to Parliament how much we are spending on managing refugees and be fiscally accountable on all related expenditure items. The minister also has to revamp, develop and then implement better policies and administrative provisions to process applications for asylum," he said. - Mkini

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