MALAYSIA-UNHCR URGED TO SUSPEND POLICY ON CHIN REFUGEES

Posted by AsiaViews | Sep 6, 2018 | 0 |

The Star Online-Sept 6

A refugee rights group has urged the UNHCR to suspend its policy to end refugee status of Chin Refugees from Myanmar.
The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) said it was deeply concerned about UNHCR’s recent decision to implement a policy to end refugee status of Chin refugees from Myanmar that would affect 30,140 Chin refugees in Malaysia and 3,000 in India.

“This change, if implemented, may result in many people being unfairly stripped of their refugee status and potentially returned to a country where their life is in danger,” it said in a statement dated Tuesday (Sept 4).
It said that while the NLD-led government had taken some positive steps towards instituting peace across the country, substantive change has still not materialized for Myanmar’s numerous ethnic minorities. “Though there have been recent improvements in the situation in some parts of Myanmar, there has been no fundamental change in the country as a whole to merit cessation of refugee status, particularly for ethnic and religious minority populations,” it said.
In addition, APRRN also made several recommendations to UNHCR, including suspending the withdrawal of UNHCR refugee cards; ensuring that Chin refugees, and all other refugee populations are not effectively forced to return against their will; and to work with host countries and Myanmar to genuinely work together to create a situation in Chin state whereby refugees can return in safety and dignity.
UNHCR had previously said that Chin refugees do not need their protection anymore, as the situation in Chin state is now stable and secure. The Chin, who are the second largest refugee group in Malaysia, were told by the UNHCR on June 13 that the agency decided to begin the process of ending refugee status for them, beginning August.
From August, Chin refugees approaching the UN agency would have their cards extended until December 2019 without the need for an interview.
But as of Jan 1, 2020, the individual refugee status would cease and their cards would no longer be reviewed.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/09/06/unhcr-urged-to-suspend-policy-on-chin-refugees/#1rIkVMljMaQXo8Ch.99

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EXTRICATING NDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM ISIS INFLUENCE ABROAD

Indonesia urgently needs to revisit the possibility of repatriating the neediest of its young citizens stranded abroad, whose families had earlier joined ISIS. Most of these children are in camps in northern Syria but there are also small numbers in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Iraq. “Extricating Indonesian Children from ISIS Influence Abroad”, the latest report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) argues that the government could begin by bringing back small groups of unaccompanied children under ten years of age, who pose minimal security risk and are most vulnerable to deteriorating conditions in the camps.“The problem is that health and security conditions are worsening by the day in the Syrian camps, and the children are growing older,” says Dyah Kartika, IPAC analyst. “They need access to schools, a nurturing environment, and medical attention. If the government waits too long, the children will be further exposed to ISIS ideology.” The new report examines a 2019 list of Indonesians in camps and prisons run by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Indonesian government has been trying to verify their citizenship, but with pseudonyms, misspellings and bad transliterations, it is a daunting task. At the time the data was collected, between March and June 2019, there were 555 Indonesians in SDF camps and prisons, including 367 children. Among the children, approximately 277 were under the age of ten and 34 were unaccompanied. In June 2021, there are fewer than ten children who are both unaccompanied and under the age of ten that could be prioritized for return. Bringing back children of ISIS families is no easy task. The report analyses the main challenges faced by the Indonesian government. These include definitional issues, bureaucratic competition, the difficulty of verifying nationality, evaluating the toll of exposure to conflict, assessing security risk, and finding relatives or others willing to provide care once the children are returned. In addition, COVID has meant stringent restrictions on travel, placing further obstacles in the way of repatriation. There are several models for rehabilitation of children exposed to violent extremism in Indonesia that could be modified to accommodate the needs of children repatriated from abroad. The report examines these models and argues that the government does not need to have every detail of rehabilitation programs in place before it starts extricating children from ISIS influence. It can start by bringing back the most vulnerable children and then modify programs as needed.

“It’s important that the government see these children as victims” says Dyah. “They deserve a chance to be children again.”

MALAYSIA-UNHCR URGED TO SUSPEND POLICY ON CHIN REFUGEES

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