Page 1 VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol.

1, Issue 5) January 25, 2009

Editorial,

Nowadays, in Malaysia the seasonal signs and decorations remind us of a happy new year once again. It has
been well known by refugees in Malaysia that there are always more raids against illegal workers during this
kind of Chinese New Year in every year.

Recently, a company in Malaysia had reduced a number of its workers. Moreover, there were notable facts
regarding human trafficking that have drawn the world’s attention much more than before. It is undeniable fact
that the issues of human trafficking and the presence of Burma illegal workers in Thailand and Malaysia are
internally related with the issue of refugees from Burma. These issues can hardly be separated even though they
have different aspects and purposes. The main source that generates these problems must have to be solved in
order to resolve the consequent hitches.

We, the VOCR team members wished you all to have a happy Chinese New Year ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai.’

Salai Biak Lian Sang: Editor

Salai John C Cung : Joint Editor

Visiting to learning centers for Chin Refugee Children in Malaysia

Salai Eagle
January 24, 2009
VOCR – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Increasing number of refugee children in Malaysia has been
demanding more convenience learning spaces and
facilities. Each refugee community centers in Malaysia have
their own schools for children. Within this week, VOCR
writers and editors have visited to two different schools for
Chin refugee children in Malaysia.
The two Chin refugee centers also provide learning centers
for the refugee Children. Chin Student Organization offers
basic education for the children, which is known as CSO-
School. In the other hand, Alliance of Chin Refugee Center
also has ACR-school for the Chin refugee Children.
CSO-School
Establishment: VOCR team had visited to CSO-School
and collected basic information about the school that they
had kept officially. According to their record, CSO-school
was established in 2005 by a group of Chin students who
left Myanmar and sought for asylum in Malaysia UNHCR
office. It was known that the exiled Chin students
envisioned the need of education for Chin refugee children
in Malaysia. In 2005, Chin Refugee Committee allowed the
CSO-school to use their office space for classroom but the
children could not have regular textbooks for the first 30
students. Since 2006, CSO could have a separate room for
the school.
Extension and development: As the number of Chin
refugee children was increasing year after years, CSO
extended schools in different locations. In year 2006, CSO-
Schools were extended at Cheras for 60 new students, and
at Ampang. The current chairman of CSO said, “In 2006,
there were only 7 teachers. I and another one were
arrested and detained. So we could not continue school in
Ampang”.

Within 2007, CSO extended schools at Puchung, Jalan

Loke Yew and Jalan Ipoh. In 2007, 280 students have
attended at CSO schools located at five different schools. In
2008, the number of students increased to over 450. In this
year CSO has extended a new learning place for 30
refugee children at Kajang. The number of volunteer
teachers also has increased to 17. There are also obvious
Page 2 VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 5)
development and changes in the lessons offered for the
children.
Age limit and courses: Both male and female have the
equal opportunity to study in CSO-schools. The students
are from 3 years old to 16/17 years old. Under six years old
children attend the Kindergarten class. Seven to nine years
old children attend Pre-class; ten to twelve years old
children attend Grade One and above thirteen years
students attend Grade II, and above fourteen years old
attend Grade III.
Activities: CSO has annual support day. The school
calendar begins from January. In June the students have
mid term examination. After that, they have a break for a
couple of weeks. The second school term end with final
examination held in December. Their Christmas holidays
begin with annual support day and concert.
Lian Uk Thang, the chairman of CSO said, “Before that the
classes were divided based on the students’ age. But from
2009 it will be based upon the based line knowledge that
the students have.”
ACR-school: VOCR editor also have visited to ACR-
school. Alliance of Chin Refugees, which is a refugee
center in Malaysia, also provides learning center for refugee
children.
ACR was established in May 2005. The school also was
established at the same time.
January 25, 2009
Refugee children having physical exercises
Classes: There are four classes in ACR-school, which they call
PI, PII, PIII and PIV. Students in PI class are 5 and below. The
students from 5 to 8 years old student are in PII class. PI and PII
classes begin from nine o’clock in the morning to 12 in the
afternoon. Then PIII and PV classes begin from 1:00 pm till 3:00
pm. The classes in 2008 are on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
It was learned that in 2009 the class time would be extended.
Pu Biak Ceu, advisor of ACR said, “In the morning the school
provides breakfast for the students. At twelve o’clock Lunch is
provided for the students. In this 2009, we assume that the class
would be held 5 days in a week.”
Mai Sharon, a volunteer teacher preparing lunch for the student
The learning place is located at ACR office. It is known that
the volunteer teachers are from International School, Kuala
Lumpur and American Association and Asian Outreach
centers. Other individual volunteer teachers are also
helping the ACR School. It was known that currently there
are 120 students attending in ACR-school.
Volunteer teachers teaching the students
Page 3 VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 5)
Both ACR and CSO-schools have been enormously
providing education for the desperate refugee children in
Malaysia.
Father of a student in this school for refugee said, “My son
who goes to school tells me how to top-up telephone and
make calls. He also tells me some English that he had
learned from school.” The benevolent smiles can be seen
in a skinny refugee old man, who appreciates his son to
have education even though being a refugee in Malaysia.
Malaysia authorities have lunched raid
against illegal immigrants in Malaysia
VOCR
January 25, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
According to Chin Refugee Committee’s record, the raids
against illegal immigrant in Malaysia have increased in the
last month of 2008 and first month of 2009. It also shows
that not less than 90 people including 15 women have been
arrested only in January 2009.
January 25, 2009
How can you help refugees in Malaysia?
• You can visit refugee community offices and
learn more about their needs. Financial need is
not the only problem. You will see many more
things that you can contribute for the refugees.
• UNHCR should not be understood as the only
organization that can help the refugees. In fact,
UNHCR itself may need your contribution.
• You can contribute your time and ability to
teach the refugee children, encourage refugee
patients, counsel refuge women and share
about health awareness.
• You can help to promote literature and
newsletters in the host language for refugees

Only in this week, CRC had received report of arrest from • You and your organization can establish a free
different locations in Malaysia.
dispensary for the refugees so that thousands of
It has been reported that 13 people including refugees and refugees will have opportunity to avoid long Q
asylum-seekers were arrested at Ni Lai a place a bout 30 to get medical treatment.
th
klm away from Kuala Lumpur on 17 of January 2009.
Some of them have appointment for immigration interview • You can arrange or sponsor Legal seminar to
to resettle into USA. It has been known that they have been
detained in Lengang immigration detention camp.
educate the community leaders and refugee
journalist.
There was also raid in the place called Rawang where 4
th
people have been known of arrest on 14 of this month and
their place of detention is still unknown.

There was also operation in Malaca town and Ipon in Perak

sate where at least 6 asylum-seekers from Burma were
known arrested and detained in Langcap detention camp. Contact Us: VOCR News Group
Email: vocrnews@gmail.com,
It was also known that there was raid in Trinkap, Cameron
Highland where 4 people were arrested. Today, January
Phone: 006016-9160018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
25, 2009 there are raids in two places in Malaysia. In Muar,
Johor Bahru 4 people have been known arrested and at
Kotaraya in KL several people have been arrested. VOCR weekly newsletter is issued and owned by VOCR news
group that is a non-profit news group focusing on the Chin
CRC information in charge Mr. Chan Chan said, “According refugees in Malaysia in specific and other refugee related
to our record, only in this month January 2009 many people issues in general.
have been arrested. We received the report for arrest of 90
people including 15 women till today. We believe the
numbers of arrested are more than this report as some
people used to fail to make report.”
VOCR News Group
He continued, “In last year, we have officially recorded that
589 people who are registered with our office or with
UNHCR were deported. 889 people including women and Editor :Salai Biak Lian Sang
children were arrested within 2008. We believe that around Joint Editor : Salai John C Cung
200 people are still under detention.” Journalist : Salai Ram Nun Cung
Journalist & Advisor: Salai Durbun
Chin Refugee Committee is the one of the most capable
refugee committee to work for numbers of refugees from
Computer Designer
Burma in Malaysia. & Typist : Ms. Khar Naung
Photographer : Sangte