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Rohingya suicide attempt symptom of the humanitarian crisis

“I am sad. I am alone in this world. My family members are all dead, either bombed or killed by the soldiers.”
 – Ali Juhar Jamal Hussin.

The imprisonment of the 19-year-old Rohingya Ali Juhar Jamal Hussin for attempted suicide is merely a tragic side event to the reality that is unfolding in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The dramatic action of the young man clearly indicates his sense of helplessness and despair at the situation of the Rohingya community that is being wiped out in Myanmar.

Using Section 309 of the Penal Code to punish the young man is senseless and mindless. It displays a flawed reasoning that punishment will deter suicides, even while the root causes are not addressed. What Ali Juhar needs is access to counselling, immediate assistance and support at a time when his family is being butchered and killed, instead of being criminalised.

Rather than taking a legalistic approach that is insensitive to the young man’s pain, suffering, mental instability and depression, Malaysia should focus on the larger issue of genocide and ethnic cleansing that is happening within our own Asean community. We should ask ourselves whether we have acted with sufficient firmness and determination to put a stop to these crimes against humanity.

Or are we prevaricating around the issue for fear of offending our Asean partners, while making appropriate noises to make a show of concern? Or are we prepared to put our money where our mouth is by taking economic and diplomatic measures to address the issues surrounding the Myanmar and the Rohingya community?

Another preposterous action against this humanitarian crisis is the use of the Immigration Act to penalise Ali Juhar for entering the country without legal travel documents!

Are we ignorant of the fact that the whole Rohingya community is being pushed into a situation of statelessness by the Myanmar government? Instead of penalising the young man for not having valid travel documents, shouldn’t we be asking why the Rohingya have no passports, and why they are leaving their country becoming stateless in the first place?

Malaysia has made international pledges to assist the Rohingya community, yet our actions fall far short of our international posturing. We have not signed the UN Refugee Convention 1951, we don’t permit refugees (including Rohingya refugees) to work, we do not provide them with state support but instead penalise those who work to support themselves and seek shelter.

These pledges must be followed up by committed actions, and not allowed to remain merely a public relations exercise. We have a duty toward the Rohingya community who are being persecuted for various reasons, we have a duty of justice.

Therefore, Malaysia needs to seriously rethink our policies and practices with regard to refugees; and it should start with reviewing our relations with Myanmar, we must allow them the right to work, the right to education and the right to live a life of dignity.

 

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