Category: News

By Amy Alexander – 12 March 2007- Once again, the Jalan Imbi neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur falls prey to yet another immigration raid conducted by the highly controversial People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) early this morning. This is the second raid to take place at Jalan Imbi in a six-month period as Malaysian authorities continue to target asylum seekers and refugees in immigration crackdowns. Jalan Imbi is largely inhabited by refugees and asylum seekers from Burma’s Chinland and hosts the Chin Refugee Center run by the Chin Refugee Committee, which received a Malaysian human rights award last year.

12 March 2007- In response to the recent arrests and detentions of newborn babies and their refugee parents by the Malaysian authorities, Malaysia-based human rights group, SUARAM, issued a statement criticizing the government’s action and urging the government to recognize the rights of refugees.

By Salai Za Uk Ling – 7 March 2007 – Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian immigration today placed in custody a new-born refugee baby and mother in what is a third of such arrest in two weeks.

By Salai Elaisa Vahnie – Washington DC: A delegation comprised of the Chin and Kachin activists along with London based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), shared an evening with the Chin Community of USA Washington DC area at the last day of their mission to Europe and America. The delegation was on a mission to raise awareness about Christian persecution in Burma to the world, especially Britain, Germany, European Union and the United States.

By Salai Elaisa Vahnie – February 27, 2007-New York: Cheery Zahau of Women League of Chinland ( WLC) spoke today at the United Nations held the panel discussion at its 51st Session of Commission on the Status of Women at the UN Headquarters building in New York.  The panel discussion focused on discrimination and violence against women in Burma and Sudan. The panelists presented about rape and sexual violence in both countries where Mass Rape have been practiced as a State Sanctioned Weapon.

By Elaisa Vahnie  – February 9, 2007-Wahisngton DC: The Chin and Kachin delegation is wrapping up its advocacy mission tonight here in Washington DC, where they met with senior US government officials, urging them to take action to bring an end to the suffering of the people of Burma.

By Salai Za Uk Ling – 5 February 2007 – Berlin: Activists from Burma have stepped up effort to shore up support from Europe as the most powerful regional bloc prepares to review its common position on Burma. A delegation of Chin and Kachin and representatives from the National Council of the Union of Burma and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma met with German Foreign Ministry in Berlin to persuade the German government to increase pressures on Burma’s military regime. A separate meeting was held in the Parliament with a group of German legislators.

By Salai Za Uk Ling – 4 February 2007 – Brussels: A delegation of Chin and Kachin activists has urged the European Union to adopt stronger measures against Burma during a three-day visit to Brussels. The delegation met with several Members of European Parliament, representatives from the European Commission and Council of Ministers.

By Salai Za Uk Ling – 10 January 2007 – Kuala Lumpur: A Chin youth working as a construction worker earlier today fell to his death from a high rise building under construction. The victim has been identified as Hram Uk, a UNHCR-recognized refugee in his early 20s. He died instantly along with a Chinese worker, while eight other workers from India and Bangladesh escaped with minor injuries.

Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong, the current General Secretary of Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC), the largest ethnic based political coalition consistently advocating for the emergence of Tripartite Dialogue as a mean to solve the existing political impasse of the Union of Burma, is honored with the Martin Luther King Prize for 2007 in Sweden.