Sep 06, 2003

UN criticizes Malaysia for deporting refugees


The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees on Friday criticized Malaysia for deporting a group of asylum seekers from the troubled province of Aceh back to Indonesia despite appeals to delay the expulsions.
"UNHCR is extremely concerned after learning that Malaysian authorities this morning deported seven asylum seekers," said spokesman Rupert Colville. He said Malaysian officials had rejected U.N. requests to be given access to the seven !X who had all previously told refugee workers that they wanted to seek asylum.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers telephoned the Malaysian Foreign Ministry earlier this week to voice his concern over reports that up to 250 people may be sent back to Indonesia. The asylum seekers were rounded up and arrested outside UNHCR's office in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian officials have insisted that people found in the country without proper travel papers will be arrested and deported. Many of the detainees are from Aceh, where Indonesian troops launched a major offensive against separatists in May. About 800 people have died in the fighting.

Indonesia's national police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has said authorities "will absolutely question" detainees returned from Malaysia.

Wealthy, stable Malaysia has long attracted migrants, many fleeing poverty or violence, from around Southeast Asia. Although it relies heavily on foreign laborers for menial work, it deported more than 300,000 people last year amid claims of rising crime among migrants.

"The deportation is most unfortunate, particularly coming shortly in advance of a high-level mission from UNHCR which is due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur next Wednesday to discuss ways in which this specific issue can be addressed in a way which meets protection needs," said Colville. (AP)