Refugee Child Went Missing in Malaysia

By Salai Za Uk Ling – 22 March 2007 – Kuala Lumpur: A search is still on for a 7 year-old Chin refugee girl who went missing from her parents’ home in Kuala Lumpur two days ago. Detty’s mysterious disappearance is causing heightened concerns in the Chin community about the safety of their children in Malaysia.

On the evening of 20 March, Detty’s family was having guests over for dinner and prayer service at their home. According to the father, Detty was with him during dinner but disappeared about half an hour later. She was last seen by a Chin woman who lives in the upper floor at about 7:00 p.m. Detty usually went up to the woman to see her new baby.

Detty’s family was scheduled to depart for the United States on a resettlement program yesterday but their flight is now put on hold after her disappearance. The case was reported to a local police station overnight and she is now listed as missing person. Friends and relatives are conducting a search in the area but it is not enough to console the distraught parents.

Detty’s disappearance came amidst rising incidents of assault and robbery that have been targeted at refugees and undocumented migrants by local thugs. Just within this week, four refugees were brutally attacked and robbed by local criminals who preyed on foreigners for easy cash.

For more information please contact Chinland Guardian at +60173745546