Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR799
2008-09-10 09:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL LUSE DISCUSSES TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE

Tags:  PREF PHUM PREL KTIP BM TH MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0799/01 2540956
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 100956Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1625
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000799 

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS, PRM, G/TIP, H

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KTIP BM TH MY
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL LUSE DISCUSSES TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE

REFUGEES

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 786 - STAFFDEL LUSE ENGAGES GOM

B. KUALA LUMPUR 495 - ALLEGED TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE

C. KUALA LUMPUR 147 - TIP REPORT

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, Reason 1.4 (b and
d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000799

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS, PRM, G/TIP, H

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KTIP BM TH MY
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL LUSE DISCUSSES TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE

REFUGEES

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 786 - STAFFDEL LUSE ENGAGES GOM

B. KUALA LUMPUR 495 - ALLEGED TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE

C. KUALA LUMPUR 147 - TIP REPORT

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, Reason 1.4 (b and
d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Keith Luse, Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, visited Malaysia August 25-31 to
investigate reports of the trafficking of Burmese refugees to
Thailand and the alleged involvement of Malaysian Immigration
officials in such trafficking, as previously reported by
Embassy (ref B). The United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR),NGOs, refugees and activists provided
information and accounts of refugees trafficked to the Thai
border from Immigration detention centers in Malaysia. The
local observers all described the situation as serious,
recurring, and involving a large number of Burmese refugees.
Senior Malaysian Immigration officials denied the
allegations, but requested further information for their
follow-up during a meeting with Luse on August 29. In
separate meetings, Luse informed Ramlan Ibrahim,
Undersecretary for Southeast Asian Affairs in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Kamal Khalid, Head of the
Communications Unit in the Prime Minister's Office of the
upcoming Senate report on alleged trafficking of Burmese
refugees in Malaysia. Luse also met with Thai officials in
the border town of Sungai Golok, who shared information on
trafficking cases involving Burmese refugees in that border
region. Luse expressed interest in identifying ways the U.S.
could provide additional assistance to Burmese refugees in
Malaysia to improve their conditions. Post will provide
specific suggestions separately. Staffdel Luse's visit was
very useful in bringing the Burmese refugee problem to the
attention of senior GOM officials. The visit builds on
Post's efforts to date to highlight the issue and work with
local NGOs and the UNHCR on ways to improve refugee
protection, including in conjunction with the major U.S.
resettlement program for Burmese refugees. End Summary.


Trafficking Allegations
--------------


2. (C) During his August 25-31 visit to Malaysia and
Thailand, Mr. Luse sought information related to reports by
resettled Burmese refugees that, with the involvement of
Malaysian Immigration officers, Burmese refugees have been
trafficked to the Thai-Malaysian border. Luse met with
various NGOs, activists, refugees, and the UNHCR Acting
Country Representative and discussed these allegations, along
with the general refugee situation in Malaysia and at the
border. The meetings generally corroborated allegations that
lower level Malaysian immigration officials are involved in
trafficking of Burmese refugees, in line with information
previously reported by Post (ref. B). Local activists, Alice
Nah and Eric Paulsen, and NGO representatives from Tenaganita
told Luse in separate meetings the traffickers included Thai,
Malaysian, and Burmese nationals.


3. (C) Sources described incidents in which lower level
Immigration officials transport Burmese refugees from
Immigration Detention Centers (IDC) using official vehicles.
The same officials then take the group of refugees to the
border, usually between 1 and 3 a.m., where they are handed
over to traffickers operating from the Thai side of the
border. Immigration officials received between 400-700
ringgit ($125-220) per refugee. The size of the refugee
group sold to the traffickers averaged between 45 - 100
persons, including men, women, and children. The traffickers
would then allow the refugees the chance to contact someone
in Malaysia that could pay a ransom of 1500-1900 ringgit
($470-600) per person. Those able to pay were smuggled back
into Malaysia and released. Human rights activists Eric
Paulsen and Alicia Nah each estimated about 20 percent of the
refugees handed over to traffickers are unable to pay the
ransom. Those unable to pay were sold to the Thai fishing
industry, factories, farms, or plantations if a man.
Traffickers allegedly sell women to brothels, hotels, and
into domestic servitude. Some sources indicated traffickers
might force some children to work as child beggars in Bangkok
and elsewhere. (Note: This last allegation remains unclear
as many sources told us they did not have firm information on
what happened to children. In some cases, the children stay
with their mother and returned to Malaysia for a lower
ransom. End Note.) The UNHCR, Jesuit Relief Services local

KUALA LUMP 00000799 002 OF 003


affiliate, A.C.T.S., Tenaganita, and individual human rights
activists believe the allegations are accurate. Refugees
that described their experiences being sent to the border to
Poloff and Luse closely match the allegations of trafficking.
(Note: The allegations are also very similar written
statements alleging Immigration officers handing over Burmese
refugees as early as 1995. End Note.)

GOM Informed of Possible U.S. Senate Actions
--------------


4. (SBU) In separate meetings, Luse informed Ramlan Ibrahim,
Undersecretary for Southeast Asian Affairs in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Kamal Khalid, Head of the
Communications Unit in the Prime Minister's Office of the
upcoming Senate report on alleged trafficking of Burmese
refugees in Malaysia. On both occasions, the Malaysian
officials focused the discussion on broader issues. Ramlan
spoke about the general immigration problems Malaysia faces;
especially undocumented economic migrants. (Note: The GOM
repeatedly has raised pull-factor concerns during our
discussions on Malaysian refugee policy. End Note.)

Immigration Chiefs Deny Allegations
--------------


5. (C) Luse met with Director-General for Immigration
Mahmood Adam and Immigration Enforcement Director Ishak
Mohamad on August 29 to discuss the trafficking allegations.
Both men categorically denied involvement of Immigration
officials in the trafficking of Burmese refugees. Mahmood
claimed the government paid Immigration officers well, with
newly employed officers earning about 1,300 ringgit per month
(about $400). He indirectly tried to implicate the People's
Volunteer Corps (RELA),a para-military auxiliary, noting its
members augment Immigration's work force in IDCs by providing
guards. Luse stated that U.S. law enforcement officials had
written statements from trafficking victims, phone numbers,
and bank account numbers of some of the traffickers. Ishak
requested information that Malaysian authorities could use to
investigate the allegations. Luse asked about the level of
UNHCR access to IDCs. Ishak assured Luse UNHCR members had
full access to IDCs as long as they wrote in advance to
coordinate visits. He also told Luse that the UNHCR did not
have a right to inspect IDCs, as they operated under
Malaysian law. (Note: Malaysia does not recognize refugee
status, including those registered with the UNHCR. Burmese
refugees are subject to arrest as illegal migrants. End
Note.) Mahmood Adam did express his gratitude for the
advanced warning of the upcoming Senate report and possible
Senate hearings.

Luse at Thai-Malaysian Border
--------------


6. (C) On August 30, Luse traveled from Kota Bharu into
Southern Thailand where he met with Thai police officials in
the town of Sungai Golok. According to Luse in a debrief he
gave poloff after the visit, the Thai police provided
information, including photos and documents, on the 2005
arrests of three traffickers who had victimized Burmese
nationals. The police offered to follow up on any specific
information available.

Post Actions on Refugees
--------------


7. (C) Staffdel Luse's visit was highly useful in bringing
the Burmese refugee trafficking issue to the attention of
senior GOM officials. While Immigration gave no immediate
indication that they would actively and aggressively take
steps to deal with this problem, it is clear that Luse's
presentation, to include the possibility of Senate action in
the next month or two, has caught their attention. Luse's
visit was also an effective follow-on to Post's actions to
date on this issue, which have included: regular meetings
with involved NGOs, interviews with refugees, and close
coordination with UNHCR in conveying concerns over reported
trafficking of Burmese refugees to Immigration officials
beginning in May (ref. B). Post will continue to actively
follow-up with Immigration, MFA and the PM's office, as
appropriate, over the coming weeks/months to seek progress in
ending this practice. In the broader context of the U.S.
refugee resettlement program, Post together with UNHCR and
U.S. Refcoord Bangkok has engaged Malaysian Immigration
officials to secure the release of refugees held in
Immigration Detention Centers.


KUALA LUMP 00000799 003 OF 003


Possible Use of Future Funding
--------------


8. (U) At the conclusion of his visit, Luse requested post's
thoughts on possible additional programs to assist Burmese
refugees in Malaysia. Currently, the U.S. funds a variety of
programs to support refugees in Malaysia through the UNHCR
and, secondarily, through direct grants to civil society
partners, in all totaling some $540,000. If made available,
future funding could be utilized to augment informal refugee
schools operated by local NGOs, increase medical care, and
provide legal services. Post will provide more detailed
thoughts on this shortly.


9. (U) This message was cleared by Staffdel Luse.
KEITH