Dear Editor, THE recent riot by Myanmar political refugees at the Lenggeng Detention Camp shows their frustration at the manner in which their problem is being handled.

There has been no progress in their applications to resettle in third countries.

The arrests of refugees has caused detention camps to be crowded and does not solve the problem.

There are refugees in the

detention camp who have been waiting for intervention by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for three to four years.

They do not want to be

deported home as they will be arrested.

Many of these refugees suffer from depression as they have been in the detention camps

for a long time and are uncertain about their future.

While we appeal to the Malaysian government to stop the arrests, we also hope UNHCR will actively speak with resettlement countries to accept more refugees regardless of ethnicity, race and religion.

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organisation Malaysia calls on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi:

- To stop the arrest of refugees and asylum-seekers in the country.

- To release all refugees in the various detention camps.

- To give them temporary documents to continue with their stay in Malaysia while their resettlement is being processed.

- To stop deportation to the Thai border as it will only put their lives in danger.

- To add pressure on the military Junta through Asean to restore democracy in Myanmar.

Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation President

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Source: Malay Mail – April 24, 2008