More than 1,000 migrant workers from Burma arrested in Malaysia

“They should arrest those who committed killing. Instead, they arrest all the Burmese they see,”

Reports of about 1,000 migrants from Burma being arrested by Malaysian police in connection with recent deaths of 3 Burmese workers.

“We have taken steps to prevent further bloodshed by picking up more than 1,000 Myanmar workers, mainly in Sentul, Cheras, Brickfields and Dang Wangi,” Amar Singh [Kuala Lumpur’s deputy police chief, Sr Asst Comr Datuk Amar Singh] was quoted as saying, adding that illegal migrants to the country would be detained on a more permanent basis.

This is unacceptable, for only suspects involved in the killings should be arrested - not all the Burmese they see.  All persons shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Who did the killing? Well, really there is uncertainty - Was it local youth? Was it some 'gangs'? Most migrant workers, documented or undocumented, are here for economic reasons and in some cases, when it involves Burmese, it is to flee an oppressive Burmese regime. There has been lifting of sanctions but really nothing (or very little has changed) for the people of Burma (Myanmmar) on the ground - hence there is little movement back to Burma of people who have fled the country.

One Myanmar migrant worker was killed and two others injured in separate attacks by some gangs of Malaysian youths in the northern suburbs of the capital of Kuala Lumpur on May 30-31...Some reports quoted Myanmar Embassy in Malaysia as saying that on May 30, a Myanmar worker working at a vegetable shop in Selayang Market, was attacked by a gang of unidentified motorcyclists when he was on his way back home...On the next day, another Myanmar worker was attacked in similar fashion. And on the same day, a Myanmar national living in western Selayang was killed by a gang...- People's Daily Online(English), 5/6/2005, Myanmar urges probe into attack on its workers in Malaysia

Is what is happening in Malaysia anything to do with ethnic clashes in Myanmar?  I have serious doubts about this..., and a propagation of this unconfirmed theory is wrong.  

We recall a similar case around 1998/9, when based hundreds of Indonesians were arrested in Johor on the basis that a witness to a killing said that the suspects sounded like Indonesians ...are we now seeing a repeat of this? But, here the victims are Burmese - the identity of the alleged perpetrators are unclear, it could have been anyone - so, is the mass arrest of Burmese reasonable or justified. Are the incidents or killings even committed by the same people? Is it the Burmese that are are being targeted, for after all an Indonesian worker was also killed in Kepong. Now, media does not report all killings... I wonder whether all this is anything to do with the outcome of the recent General Elections? There is just too many possibilities, and only good police investigation will reveal the truth - not mass arrests of persons.

Police should do their job properly, and only arrest suspects - not go on a massive crackdown on people from Burma.

BURMA

Malaysia Detains Hundreds of Burmese after Reports of Killings

By SAW YAN NAING / THE IRRAWADDY| Thursday, June 6, 2013

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Two injured Burmese nationals are pictured at a hospital in Kaula Lumpur. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

About 1,000 Burmese nationals in Malaysia have been “picked up” by Malaysian police forces in recent days after at least three Burmese migrants were allegedly killed by a group of Muslims in Kuala Lumpur.

Multiple clashes involving Burmese people in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding Selangor State have been reported since May 30, resulting in the deaths of three Burmese workers. Several others have been hospitalized with injuries, according to Burmese migrant workers in the Malaysian capital.

The killings have been linked to religious violence in Burma, where anti-Muslim sentiment has led Buddhist extremists to launch attacks against the country’s minority Muslims, leaving more than 200 Muslims dead over the last year.

Kuala Lumpur’s deputy police chief, Sr Asst Comr Datuk Amar Singh, told The Star Online that Malaysian authorities had begun to detain the Burmese nationals in order to prevent further possible violence.

“We have taken steps to prevent further bloodshed by picking up more than 1,000 Myanmar workers, mainly in Sentul, Cheras, Brickfields and Dang Wangi,” Amar Singh was quoted as saying, adding that illegal migrants to the country would be detained on a more permanent basis.

San Win, a Burmese migrant worker in Kuala Lumpur, told The Irrawaddy that Burmese people in Malaysia had contacted the Burmese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur seeking protection after they were attacked by a group of armed men who were believed to be Muslims.

He said, however, that the Burmese people had not received adequate protection from the Burmese Embassy. He said Burmese nationals, most of whom are Buddhists, were living in fear amid Malaysia’s majority-Muslim population.

On Thursday, five representatives of Burmese communities in Malaysia staged a protest in front of the Burmese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, criticizing the Burmese ambassador to Malaysia, Tin Latt, for failing to provide protection to Burmese people living abroad in Malaysia.

Myat Ko Ko, an organizer of the protest, said that Malaysian authorities would launch a nationwide crackdown on Burmese nationals in the coming weeks.

The protesters also called on the Burmese Embassy to identify the bodies of those killed over the last week and to aid the families of the deceased. They demanded assistance from Burma’s diplomatic mission in Malaysia for those Burmese nationals hospitalized or in hiding as a result of the recent violence.

Myat Ko Ko said that the crackdown and detainments increased significantly after Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zin Yaw on Tuesday urged Malaysia’s ambassador to Burma, Ahmad Faisal Bin Muhamad, to take action against those who committed the killings and to prevent further violence.

Win Aung, a Burmese migrant in Kuala Lumpur, said the detentions were made over the last few days.

“Malaysian police, immigration officials and paramilitary militias started special operations in the evening of Tuesday and the whole day on Wednesday,” he said. “They arrested both undocumented and documented migrants.”

One Burmese migrant worker in Kuala Lumpur, who asked for anonymity, questioned the priorities of Malaysia’s law enforcers.

“They should arrest those who committed killing. Instead, they arrest all the Burmese they see,” he said.

It is estimated that there are more than 400,000 Burmese nationals living in Malaysia, including documented and undocumented migrant workers as well as UN-registered refugees.- The Irrawady, 6/6/2013, Malaysia Detains Hundreds of Burmese after Reports of Killings

Published: Monday June 3, 2013 MYT 11:06:00 PM
Updated: Monday June 3, 2013 MYT 11:20:48 PM

Foreign worker brutally stabbed to death in Kepong

By NICHOLAS CHENG

Policemen carrying the body of the 30-year-old Indonesian worker who was stabbed.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: A foreigner working as a wiring subcontract was brutally stabbed to death in Desa Park City, Kepong on Monday.

In the 7.30pm incident, the victim, a 30-year-old Indonesian worker was believed to be returning home for dinner when the suspects attacked him.

Deputy Sentul OCPD Supt Othman Abu Bakar said the man was found dead by the roadside with parts of his stomach cut open and stab wounds on his chin and back.

He said authorities were looking for two suspects, who were seen attacking the man.

"We believe that one assailant used a knife to attack him, while another stood watch.

"The suspects, who are also believed to be foreigners, escaped shortly after," he said.

Othman said two witnesses have been brought in to assist investigations and that the case was being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Othman said that a similar incident involving a Myanmar national had occurred earlier at around 3.30pm in a wholesale market in Sentul.

The 27-year-old victim, who is a vegetable delivery boy, was stabbed by two assailants in the face, back of the head and both arms.

"He is in very critical condition and has been sent to the Selayang Hospital.

No arrests have been made yet," he said.- Star Online, 4/6/2013, Foreign worker brutally stabbed to death in Kepong