More Mon refugees are registering with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) but a real resettlement plan is required.

Below is an article published by the Kaowao News Group:

Over a hundred Mon refugees have been registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) mobile team, according to the Mon Refugee Organization (MRO) based in Kuala Lumpur.

Nai Roy Mon, a social worker from the MRO said that 147 Mon refugees from the Subang area were registered by the UNHCR office on April 11 [2008].

He went on to quote a UNHCR representative, Ms. Ceceile, who explained that the UNHCR office register refugees by cooperating with local communities and local authorities.  “It is much more convenient for refugees not to come to the office, and we’ve found that local communities understand their plight so try to help them by working together,” she said.  She also explained that the office tries to register refugees from the many different ethnic backgrounds of Burma; with a broad cross-section of refugees the UNHCR has now collected a diverse range of data.

Nai Plone, who recently registered for UNHCR interview, said this mobile team has been great so far in allowing a greater number of Mon access to the interview process.  Having fled Yes Township, Mon State, to avoid human rights violations by the Burma Army, Nai Plone went on to say, “It is worthwhile waiting.  I am very excited that I have now been scheduled for an interview with the UNHCR office on April 22 [2008].”

According to Nai Lawi Mon, Chairman of the MRO, there are over twenty thousand Mon refugees near Kuala Lumpur and the Penang area, with over four thousand Mon refugees now registered with the MRO.  Before the mobile office, only about 500, or just 2.5% of these have registered with the UNHCR in the past five years.

Although their chances are minimal and the wait time is very long, many asylum seekers look for help in applying for refugee status through the MRO.

“We have to thank the MRO for helping Mon refugees. Our social workers work hard for us and we rely heavily on them. Our communication skills are lacking and it is very difficult to gain assistance from any other organizations.   Our cases are very complex, and what makes it even more complicated is that we don’t know how to speak English or Malay, so we struggle to communicate with the interviewing officers,” said Ms. Mi Sukhaing who registered with the UNHCR office and is scheduled for an interview soon, which, if successful, will see her resettled in Denmark.

On hearing this Piung Chan, another social worker from MRO agreed, stating, “There is only one Mon interpreter in the UNHCR office. We need at least one more to get through the many Mon cases.”

Nai Thy Wonna, the General Secretary of the MRO said, “Compared to other ethnic groups, in recent times few Mons have been able to resettle in third countries.  Only 26 Mon people successfully resettled to third countries; 16 to Denmark, three to Norway, two to US, two to Australia, two to New Zealand and one to Canada.  It is important that international organizations help us as much as other refugees from Burma.  Our situation back home is no better than that of other ethnic groups, however the Mon lack attention.  Overseas or former Mon refugees need to talk with their new governments, and ask for this situation to be considered.”

With the help of local NGO ‘A Call to Serve’ (ACTS), the MRO offices in Kuala Lumpur work to address the problem of Mon refugees in need of medical care.  While the MRO is unable to secure refugee status, they are able to provide assistance in looking for work and medical care to both men and women, as well as provide shelter, food, and clothing.

Since human rights violations continue in southern Burma, many Mon have fled to Malaysia as illegal immigrants and live in appalling conditions.

Local sources reported that many refugees live in rural areas, with some moving into the jungle to escape arrest and detention by Volunteers of Malaysian People (also known by its Malay acronym ‘RELA’) and immigration authorities.  Hundreds of refugees, including women and children, face the risk of disease, a lack of food and other associated problems borne out of living in very poor conditions.

During the last few weeks, the Malaysian government stepped up intensive raids, especially in areas which have a high density of refugees and asylum seekers.

Many NGOs have requested Malaysian authorities and the UNHCR provide protection to the refugees to ensure they are recognized and able to secure their fundamental rights.