UN praises Putrajaya for speaking against Myanmar, wants govt to do more for refugees
HAJAR UMIRA MD ZAKI
KUALA LUMPUR – United Nations’ Special Rapporteur has praised Malaysia for standing up against Myanmar's junta for poor handling of its minorities but called on Putrajaya to do more to tackle fears faced by refugees sent to detention centres and to improve education facilities for their children.
Thomas Andrews also encouraged Asean to follow Malaysia’s lead on its stand on Myanmar’s refugees,
“I encourage everyone in Asean countries to follow the lead of Malaysia Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah in providing the kind of pressure and recognition that more simply must be done.
“The Asean's Five Point Consensus is meaningless if it exists on paper and it only can make a difference if it is put in a meaningful action with the strategic action plan as the Minister said,” Andrews added.
Myanmar refugees, he said have no intentions of returning to their homeland due to the oppression experienced in Myanmar.
“As long as I am the Special Rapporteur, I would do everything possible to provide them support and I encouraged everyone to do the same and would exert diploamtic, political and economical pressure on the Junta.
“It should be clear that what happened in Myanmar is not only unsustainable and horrific for the people of Myanmar but also for people in Asia.
Asked on Myanmar's election, Andrews said free and fair elections is impossible as refugees exit the country while opponents are put on death row.
He also praised Malaysia for giving shelter to Rohingya survivors fleeing attacks.
“Malaysia has a long history of taking those fleeing prosecution around the world. I have learned that there are over 104,000 Rohingya who are registered in Malaysia with untold numbers who are unregistered,” he said.
However, Andrews said Myanmar refugees are also in fear of being sent by migration detentions, with insufficient educational opportunities for their children. He claimed they have also faced extortion from police officers.
