Malaysian authorities raid church, detain Chin choir members

02 August 2016 — The Malaysian authorities carried out a night raid on Chin youth practicing a choir in a church in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday.

Officials from the immigration department, and RELA Corps (People’s Volunteer Corps) entered a church building used by the Chin Christian Fellowship in Puchong area and arrested two choir members.

They ordered all of the youth to come out and gather in front of the church building, and started checking their identity cards.

Those possessing a UNHCR registration card were marked ‘OK’ on their hand and freed. However, the authorities took away Za Nawl, vice chairman of the youth group and a UNHCR cardholder, without giving reasons for the apprehension.

According to the Faiceu newspaper published in Hakha Chin in Malaysia, another refugee identified as Sang Chin Thang, originally from Hmunhalh village of Thantlang Township, Chin State, was arrested as he was only registered with a community-based organisation, Chin Refugee Committee.

The choir practice did not continue as youth members went home after having been interrogated.

A Faiceu report said that the Malaysian authorities had also arrested people in restaurants, shops and on the streets in the area. #