DIPLOMATICALLY SPEAKING:By DENNIS IGNATIUS
The predicament of Myanmar refugees in Malaysia has been grabbinginternational media attention. There are growing calls for theGovernment to address the issue.
FOR the last several weeks, the international press has beenhighlighting the sad plight of the more than 80,000 Myanmar refugeesin Malaysia.
An explosive report by the United States Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee that was released recently alleges the involvement of someMalaysian officials in the trafficking of these refugees. The refugeeshave reportedly been abused and harshly treated by other governmentagencies, including Rela.
The Government has until now, consistently denied all allegations ofmistreatment, abuse or trafficking. The former minister of homeaffairs rejected these allegations outright.
The allegations themselves are not new. Malaysian and other NGOs havebeen voicing similar concerns for years. Malaysian print andtelevision media have also featured investigative reports on thisissue. Just google ‘Burmese refugees – Malaysia’ and dozens of siteswill pop-up.
In need of serious attention: Myanmar refugees participating in ademonstration outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur in this Januaryfile picture.-AP
The UN High Commission for Refugees has also expressed alarm at thetreatment of refugees in Malaysia. Anyone who bothers to seek outthese hapless refugees, in and around our larger cities, and talk tothem, as I have, will be shocked by their stories of harassment,intimidation and abuse.
Of course, there may be some exaggeration involved. Nevertheless,their stories are credible, compelling and distressing, and must betaken seriously. Denial is not an option any longer.
It is to our great shame that we treat people who are fleeing fromoppression in such a callous manner. It goes against the norms ofdecency and violates international conventions on the treatment ofrefugees. It even flies in the face of our own claim to be “a caringsociety.”
Pretending that this problem does not exist in the hope that it wouldgo away is not going to work. The issue has now gained internationaltraction.
European and Canadian parliamentarians, together with members of theUS Congress, have taken up the cry, as have many respected NGOs.
Even our own parliamentarians are demanding action. We can thereforeexpect more negative publicity and criticism from abroad. It is goingto get very messy unless appropriate action is taken.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has done the right thing incalling for a thorough investigation. Our Inspector-General of PoliceTan Sri Musa Hassan has promised the same. Officials and others whoare found to be complicit in these abuses must be brought to book. Wehave no obligation to defend them or cover up for them.
However, these encouraging statements must now be followed up with amore comprehensive plan of action that should include the following:
First, a policy decision must be made to recognise that legitimaterefugees are different from illegal and other economic migrants. TheUNHCR already has in place a credible refugee registration system.Malaysian agencies should recognise UNHCR refugee documentation andextend appropriate protection to those who hold them. The harassmentof refugees must end immediately.
Second, the Government should henceforth give priority to documentedrefugees when it comes to recruiting temporary foreign labour. Itmakes no sense to contract thousands of foreign workers from abroad,and particularly from Myanmar, when we already have a huge pool ofunemployed refugees within our borders.
By providing refugees with legal employment, they will be able to livein dignity while awaiting resettlement in third countries.
Third, the Government should acknowledge the work of our NGOs incaring for the refugees despite many limitations, including hostilityfrom some government agencies.
These NGOs are already on the ground and have a good track record.With even modest government assistance, support and encouragement,they can do much to help the refugees.
Fourth, the Government should take the initiative to host an Aseanconference on refugees. Resettlement countries, as well as China,should be included.
The objective would be to construct a proper regional framework toprevent the abuse and trafficking of refugees and speed up theirresettlement to third countries.
Myanmar’s military rulers must also be persuaded to end their campaignof terror against their own minorities.
There is, of course, the fear that extending humanitarian support torefugees would open the floodgates, so to speak.
The real problem we face, however, is not from genuine refugees butfrom out of control illegal immigration that is exacerbated bycorruption and short-sighted labour recruitment policies. Theunfortunate people fleeing from tyranny in Myanmar should not have tosuffer because of this.
Najib has a unique opportunity to mend the damage done to ourinternational image and to restore our own self-respect. Bold measuresare needed, and needed quickly.
Malaysians, too, can help by reaching out to these refugees with thecare and compassion that has always been our hallmark, instead ofreacting with fear and suspicion.
In the final analysis, the measure of a country is not the high idealsit claims to possess but the compassion and care it shows to the weakand vulnerable in its midst. Malaysia must rise to this challenge.
Datuk Dennis Ignatius is a 36-year veteran of the Malaysian foreignservice. He has served in the United Kingdom, China, the UnitedStates, Chile and Argentina. He retired as High Commissioner forMalaysia to Canada in July 2008.
The predicament of Myanmar refugees in Malaysia has been grabbinginternational media attention. There are growing calls for theGovernment to address the issue.
FOR the last several weeks, the international press has beenhighlighting the sad plight of the more than 80,000 Myanmar refugeesin Malaysia.
An explosive report by the United States Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee that was released recently alleges the involvement of someMalaysian officials in the trafficking of these refugees. The refugeeshave reportedly been abused and harshly treated by other governmentagencies, including Rela.
The Government has until now, consistently denied all allegations ofmistreatment, abuse or trafficking. The former minister of homeaffairs rejected these allegations outright.
The allegations themselves are not new. Malaysian and other NGOs havebeen voicing similar concerns for years. Malaysian print andtelevision media have also featured investigative reports on thisissue. Just google ‘Burmese refugees – Malaysia’ and dozens of siteswill pop-up.
In need of serious attention: Myanmar refugees participating in ademonstration outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur in this Januaryfile picture.-AP
The UN High Commission for Refugees has also expressed alarm at thetreatment of refugees in Malaysia. Anyone who bothers to seek outthese hapless refugees, in and around our larger cities, and talk tothem, as I have, will be shocked by their stories of harassment,intimidation and abuse.
Of course, there may be some exaggeration involved. Nevertheless,their stories are credible, compelling and distressing, and must betaken seriously. Denial is not an option any longer.
It is to our great shame that we treat people who are fleeing fromoppression in such a callous manner. It goes against the norms ofdecency and violates international conventions on the treatment ofrefugees. It even flies in the face of our own claim to be “a caringsociety.”
Pretending that this problem does not exist in the hope that it wouldgo away is not going to work. The issue has now gained internationaltraction.
European and Canadian parliamentarians, together with members of theUS Congress, have taken up the cry, as have many respected NGOs.
Even our own parliamentarians are demanding action. We can thereforeexpect more negative publicity and criticism from abroad. It is goingto get very messy unless appropriate action is taken.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has done the right thing incalling for a thorough investigation. Our Inspector-General of PoliceTan Sri Musa Hassan has promised the same. Officials and others whoare found to be complicit in these abuses must be brought to book. Wehave no obligation to defend them or cover up for them.
However, these encouraging statements must now be followed up with amore comprehensive plan of action that should include the following:
First, a policy decision must be made to recognise that legitimaterefugees are different from illegal and other economic migrants. TheUNHCR already has in place a credible refugee registration system.Malaysian agencies should recognise UNHCR refugee documentation andextend appropriate protection to those who hold them. The harassmentof refugees must end immediately.
Second, the Government should henceforth give priority to documentedrefugees when it comes to recruiting temporary foreign labour. Itmakes no sense to contract thousands of foreign workers from abroad,and particularly from Myanmar, when we already have a huge pool ofunemployed refugees within our borders.
By providing refugees with legal employment, they will be able to livein dignity while awaiting resettlement in third countries.
Third, the Government should acknowledge the work of our NGOs incaring for the refugees despite many limitations, including hostilityfrom some government agencies.
These NGOs are already on the ground and have a good track record.With even modest government assistance, support and encouragement,they can do much to help the refugees.
Fourth, the Government should take the initiative to host an Aseanconference on refugees. Resettlement countries, as well as China,should be included.
The objective would be to construct a proper regional framework toprevent the abuse and trafficking of refugees and speed up theirresettlement to third countries.
Myanmar’s military rulers must also be persuaded to end their campaignof terror against their own minorities.
There is, of course, the fear that extending humanitarian support torefugees would open the floodgates, so to speak.
The real problem we face, however, is not from genuine refugees butfrom out of control illegal immigration that is exacerbated bycorruption and short-sighted labour recruitment policies. Theunfortunate people fleeing from tyranny in Myanmar should not have tosuffer because of this.
Najib has a unique opportunity to mend the damage done to ourinternational image and to restore our own self-respect. Bold measuresare needed, and needed quickly.
Malaysians, too, can help by reaching out to these refugees with thecare and compassion that has always been our hallmark, instead ofreacting with fear and suspicion.
In the final analysis, the measure of a country is not the high idealsit claims to possess but the compassion and care it shows to the weakand vulnerable in its midst. Malaysia must rise to this challenge.
Datuk Dennis Ignatius is a 36-year veteran of the Malaysian foreignservice. He has served in the United Kingdom, China, the UnitedStates, Chile and Argentina. He retired as High Commissioner forMalaysia to Canada in July 2008.
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