Chin Human Rights Organization
2930 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 200-36, Berkeley, California, US 94705
Tel: +1.510.981.1417
www.chro.org
           
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:     Amy Alexander
                 
                  Tel: +66.85.23.02.609
**URGENT ACTION REQUESTED**

 

Renewed Calls for Release of Woman and Children
Detained in Kelantan State, Malaysia
5 December 2007
Kelantan State, Malaysia: CHRO is deeply concerned for the well-being of one Chin woman and her four young children, who remain detained in Tanah Merah Immigration Detention Camp in Malaysia’s Kelantan State. Tin Thluai and her children, Zung Thluai Men, age 1, Sonia Run Chin Par, age 3, Sui Dawt Par, age 9, and Lal Rin Mawi, age 13, were arrested and taken into immigration custody on 29 October 2007 shortly after being involved in a serious traffic accident that left two of the children with broken legs and the mother with severe head wounds.
The Immigration Department in Kelantan State has refused to release the family, denied UNHCR access into the detention facility, and prohibited visitation rights to the husband and father of the family. CHRO condemns these appallingly inhumane actions of the Kelantan Immigration Department and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the family.

Tin Thluai

Lal Peng, the husband and father of the family, is distraught over the continued detention of his wife and children. “I just want my family to be safe and together again. I was allowed to see my wife and two daughters when they were still in the hospital. My little girl was crying so much she couldn’t stop. Then I was told I had to leave and couldn’t come back or they would arrest me too.”
Lal Peng is a UNHCR-recognized refugee awaiting resettlement to the U.S. Despite his UNHCR status, the UNHCR has been unable to intervene in his family’s case. Lal Peng, himself, was only able to visit his family in the detention camp once before being barred from further visits. During that visit, his wife described the difficulty of conditions in the camp, “She told me that they are not given enough food. My wife is still breast-feeding our youngest child. But the others are going hungry. I tried to give them money for food but the guards would not allow it.”

Lal Rin Mawi, age 13

CHRO first reported this incident on 9 November 2007 when Lal Peng’s family along with 16 other women and children were first arrested and detained in Kelantan State. Sadly, the other 16 women and children were deported earlier this month to the Thailand border. Lal Peng’s family were spared deportation only because the severity of their injuries. Thirteen-year old Lal Rin Mawi has a broken leg and nine-year old Sui Dawt Par is in a partial body cast suffering from an upper leg injury and still cannot stand on her own. Lal Peng’s wife, Tin Thluai, has two sets of stitches in her head and deep cuts on her hand.

CALL TO ACTION                                                                                                  

Sui Dawt Par, age 9

The callous actions of the Kelantan Immigration Department are not only disconcerting but also in violation of basic human rights, including specific protections for women and children contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Please join CHRO in their demands to the Malaysian government to:
 
·        Immediately release Tin Thluai and her children, Zung Thluai Men, age 1, Sonia Run Chin Par, age 3, Sui Dawt Par, age 9, and Lal Rin Mawi, age 13;
·        Stop further arrests and detention of women and children in Malaysia;
·       

Sonia Run Chin Par, age 3

Allow UNHCR access to all potential refugees, particularly vulnerable women and children, under their custody;
·        Ensure visitation rights for family members of immigration detainees are protected.
Your letters can make a difference. Please show your opposition to the abusive actions of the Malaysian Immigration Department. Be a voice for all refugees living in Malaysia. Direct your communications and concerns to:

Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad
Minister of Home Affairs
Level 12, Block D1, Parcel D,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62546 Putrajaya
Tel: +60.38.886.8000
Fax: +60.38.889.1613
Tuan HJ. Wahid Bin MD Don, Director-General of Immigration Department
Director General Office
Immigration Department of Malaysia ,
Level 1-7 (Podium) Block 2G-4, Precint 2,
Federal Government Administration Centre,
62550 Putrajaya,
Tel: +60 3 8880 1000 
Fax: +60 3 8880 1200'
Encik Che Baharom Bin Hamzah
Director of State Immigration
Kelantan State
Malaysia
Tel: +60.9.744.1644
Fax: +60.9.744.0200
Datuk Ishak Bin Haji Mohamed
Immigration Enforcement Director
Immigration Department of Malaysia
Tingkat 4, Blok 2G4, Precinct 2
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62550 Putra Jaya
Malaysia
Tel: +603.8880.1297
Fax: +603.8880.1310
E-mail: