Nineteen Sri Lankan detainees called off their intended hunger strike, having been assured that they will not be deported after all.

Shainurin Shaari, the assistant deputy director of the KLIA immigration detention depot, said the news was conveyed to the group yesterday.

They have been held at the depot for the past week, and had threatened to go on hunger strike if not released immediately.

Shainurin disclosed that they have been segregated from other detainees who are in the process of being deported.

ethnic relations upm fiasco 190706 k arumugam "I believe that they are feeling more secure and have calmed down, now that they are in another block," he said.

He also said the situation of the Sri Lankans is being treated as a special case and that they are receiving extra attention. It is understand that media coverage has prompted this.

Suaram chairperson K Arumugam ( left ) said the detainees have been told that they will be released, once the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has completed the necessary documentation of their status.

UNHCR had earlier said that it has taken the required steps to secure their release.

Officials awaiting DG's directive

To date, however, the immigration department has not revealed the reason for arrest, intention to deport, and why the move was halted.

Officials from both the KLIA depot and enforcement unit said they do not know the details and that they are waiting for a directive from the director-general.

When contacted by Malaysiakini , immigration director-general Abdul Rahman Othman said that the documentation for the release of the detainees have been in processed since last Monday.

“I have already given instructions for their release as UNHCR have confirmed that they are asylum-seekers,” he said.

He explained that earlier they planned to deport the Sri Lankan because the immigration department have not gotten the much needed verification from UNHCR.

“We were processing them to be sent home because they have been in the detention camp for quite a while and their nationality is clear as we have received certification from the Sri Lanka embassy.

“Therefore, it is only natural to proceed with the deportation.”

He said that they will be release soon and this is handled by the KLIA detention depot.

lenggeng detention camp myanmar burmese detainees incarcerated 220408 The predicament of the detainees had been highlighted last week by Suaram, in a bid to prevent their deportation on grounds that they face persecution at home.

The Sri Lankans had been arrested in Johor Bharu three months ago and convicted of over-staying.

They were detained at the Machap Umboo immigration detention camp in Malacca, prior to being transferred to the KLIA depot.