UNHCR: End problem by regulating refugees
Soon Li TsinPublished: Aug 1, 2006 4:46 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The refugee problem in Malaysia can be alleviated through government regularisation to allow them to work and live here legally, said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Volker Turk today.
Malaysia will soon take part in the UN high level dialogue on international migration but nothing is seen to be done to solve our refugee problem.
The refugee problem in Malaysia can be alleviated through government regularisation to allow them to work and live here legally, said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Volker Turk today.
Regularisation of refugees can help stabilise the population, he said, adding that it helps to manage an otherwise unmanageable issue by assisting refugees to find work and a place to stay
Turk was speaking at a press conference at the sidelines of the UNHCR organised conference on Challenges of Global Migration and Forced Displacement in Kuala Lumpur.
"For the refugee population what we would like to see as we've had good discussions with the government is a way to accept the fact that they (the refugees) are here and they will stay here until a solution can be found.
"And that was announced by the government in September 2004 to regularise the existing refugee population to have access to legal employment, education and healthcare," he said.
The two-day conference is part of the preparatory process for the UN High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in New York in mid-September of which Malaysia will be a part of.
During the press conference, Turk said UNHCR hopes the conclusion made at the conference would be available to the high level dialogue as it is an important entry point to put this very complex issue on international migration and refugee movement up on the table for discussion.
Government crackdown
When pressed for an answer on possible UNHCR proposals against rounding up of refugees who are often confused as illegal immigrants in the recently announced Ops Tegas, Turk appeared stumped..
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Param Cumaraswamy then intercepted.
"We can all give proposals but the question is to what extent the ministry will carefully address these issues. We will see what recommendations are made in the dialogue and then the civil society groups can persuade and influence the government to change their policies," he said.
The status of refugees is different from illegal immigrants as that refugees are forced to leave their home country and are not subjected to deportation.
There are approximately 46,000 registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia mainly made up of Acehnese, Rohingyas and Burmese Chins.
Regularisation of refugees can help stabilise the population, he said, adding that it helps to manage an otherwise unmanageable issue by assisting refugees to find work and a place to stay
Turk was speaking at a press conference at the sidelines of the UNHCR organised conference on Challenges of Global Migration and Forced Displacement in Kuala Lumpur. "For the refugee population what we would like to see as we've had good discussions with the government is a way to accept the fact that they (the refugees) are here and they will stay here until a solution can be found.
"And that was announced by the government in September 2004 to regularise the existing refugee population to have access to legal employment, education and healthcare," he said.
The two-day conference is part of the preparatory process for the UN High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in New York in mid-September of which Malaysia will be a part of.
During the press conference, Turk said UNHCR hopes the conclusion made at the conference would be available to the high level dialogue as it is an important entry point to put this very complex issue on international migration and refugee movement up on the table for discussion.
Government crackdown
When pressed for an answer on possible UNHCR proposals against rounding up of refugees who are often confused as illegal immigrants in the recently announced Ops Tegas, Turk appeared stumped..
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Param Cumaraswamy then intercepted.
"We can all give proposals but the question is to what extent the ministry will carefully address these issues. We will see what recommendations are made in the dialogue and then the civil society groups can persuade and influence the government to change their policies," he said.
The status of refugees is different from illegal immigrants as that refugees are forced to leave their home country and are not subjected to deportation.
There are approximately 46,000 registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia mainly made up of Acehnese, Rohingyas and Burmese Chins.
View Comments0