Malaysia’s immigration authorities have 1086 Myanmar migrants deported and opposed to a court order to stop their repatriation following a call by two human rights groups
Just a few hours earlier, a Supreme Court issued a one-day residence order for the deportation of 1200 migrants from Myanmar to hear an appeal from Amnesty International Malaysia and Asylum Access Malaysia
The appeal indicated that refugees, asylum seekers and minors were among those who were sent back
Immigration chief Khairul Dzaimee Daud said in a statement that 1086 drove home on three Myanmar navy ships by themselves
“Everyone has agreed to return voluntarily without being forced by any party,” said Khairul
He stressed that they are all Myanmar nationals and are not Rohingya Muslim refugees or asylum seekers, which contradicts the rights groups
How Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, went from an overwhelming victory to an arrest by her country’s military in just two months
The statement did not mention the court order or explain why only 1086 instead of 1200 were deported
“In view of the court ruling, the government must respect the court order and ensure that none of the 1200 people are deported today They are at a life-threatening risk, “Katrina Joren Maliamauv, director of Amnesty International Malaysia, had previously said
Amnesty said the court would appeal today, urging the government to reconsider its plans to treat migrants following the riots following the March 1 military coup February when the country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was deposed to be sent back to Myanmar
The department said the group had been detained for crimes including lack of valid travel documents, overstepping visas and violating social visit passports
In their legal registration, the two rights groups named three persons registered with the UNHCR and 17 minors who still have at least one parent in Malaysia
Members of the Australian Burmese community were in a state of shock and disbelief after the military arrested Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi
The UNHCR has separately stated that at least six people are registered in the group who are to be deported
Amnesty and asylum access say that repatriation is synonymous with legitimizing ongoing human rights violations by the military in Myanmar, exposing migrants to further persecution, violence and even death
A group of 27 Malaysian MPs and senators sent a letter to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday urging him to stop the deportation
Malaysia does not recognize asylum seekers or refugees but has allowed a large population to stay on humanitarian grounds
Around 180 live here000 UN refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 100000 Rohingya and other ethnic groups in Myanmar
More than 700000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August 2017 when the military cracked down on them in response to attacks by a rebel group
The security forces have been accused of mass rapes, murders and the burning of thousands of houses
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Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), deportation
News – AU – Malaysia deported despite court order 1086 migrants from Myanmar
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-23/malaysia-deports-myanmar-migrants-despite-court-order/13184686