Press Statement by M. Kula Segaran, MP
for Ipoh Barat and Caucus member of Sri Lanka Displaced People, Malaysian
Parliament on 12th November 2014
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Malaysian government urged to sign UN Convention on Refugees
The Malaysian Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights in Sri Lanka, comprising distinguished Members of Parliament met at the Malaysian Parliament to take stock of the progress of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka along with discussing the Sri Lankan refugee situation in Malaysia. The meeting was held in the background of the visit of Dr.Paul Newman from Bangalore who is an expert on the Sri Lankan issue.
It may be noted that in 2013, Malaysia
abstained from voting at the 22nd UN human rights Council as a result of the
pressure from this caucus. There was also a call by the caucus the same year to
boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
The Caucus is headed by Honourable
Johari as the Chairperson and Honourable Kasturi as the Secretary. Other
members include senior leader of the Opposition YB Kulasegaran. Wide ranging
issues including the recent spate of attacks on the Muslims, the economic
marginalization of the Muslim community in terms of boycotting and attacking
the Muslim meat vendors selling Halal meat were taken up for discussion.
The grim situation of Tamils in the
North and East was given special importance during the meeting in view of the
ongoing UN International l Inquiry on War Crimes perpetrated by the Sri Lankan
state on the Tamils. The Caucus condemned Sri Lanka for not allowing the UN Investigators
into Sri Lanka, thereby not complying with the state obligation to the UN. The
Caucus also condemned the travel ban on foreigners to the northern part of Sri
Lanka which proved that Sri Lanka wanted to hide something.
The issue of land grab was of prime
concern to the caucus as the Tamils were being marginalised in their own land.
Those who advocated for human rights were harassed by ghetto state and the
worst to suffer were the journalist as media freedom was completely curtailed
by the state. The rise of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) which has openly advocated
attacking the Muslims was a cause of concern to the caucus.
The caucus appealed to the
Government of Sri Lanka to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act as
the civil war was declared over in 2009 itself. They also appealed that a
complete civilian administration should be restored in the North and East. The
process of demilitarisation should be started with immediate effect and
Sinhalization and promotion of Buddhism in the Tamil and Muslim dominated areas
should be stopped at all cost in order to exude confidence in the civil
society.
The infrastructure development in
the North and East was welcomed but it was pointed out that it was not a
substitute to full enjoyment of rights of the people as the Government efforts
to development of infrastructure was fully used by the armed forces.
The pressing problem of the 7000 Sri
Lankan Tamil refugees was taken up as some of them have been living in Malaysia
for more than sixteen years without proper papers. Though they speak Malay and
hold UNHCR cards, their plight in Malaysia is deplorable as they face severe
harassment by their employers and the authorities apart from living in abysmal
conditions with lack of proper economic, educational and health facilities.
Mr.Kulasegaran urged the caucus to
press Malaysia to sign the UN convention on refugees by which the refugees can
get better protection. It may be noted that there are more than 150,000
refugees but they do not come under the protection mechanism off the UNHRC.
The caucus resolved to meet the Sri
Lankan High Commissioner to seek an update on the progress of the political
issue with the Tamils and the treatment of the Muslims. They also decided to
seek an answer from the Government of Malaysia on the stand of the OIC along
with engaging the Chief of Mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHRC) to resolve the refugee issue.
The other MPs who attended were MPs for
the constituencies of Seputeh, Kota Raja, Batu, Lanang, Kota Melaka, Batu Gajah,
and Tumpat.
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