Page 1 VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol.
1, Issue 1)
A Chin asylum seeker died in front of UNHCR
office
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 24, 2008
Ye Thew, a Chin refugee in Malaysia died in front of
Malaysia-UNHCR office on December 22, 2008. He was
arrested and detained in Malaysia 4 times for his illegal
stay in Malaysia. He suffered from a mild mental illness
since his last detention. VOCR reporter had visited
relatives and friends of Ye Thew.
According to his close friends, he had been suffering from
mental illness. UNHCR office had referred him to a mental
center once. But it was known that he refused to be treated
as a mental patient. He was unemployed for many months.
He was robbed and his UNHCR card also was cheated a
week before he died. After that he claimed to his friends
that he wanted to have fasting and prayer. He did not have
food for a bout a week. His room mates saw that he was
vomiting with blood and there were blood in his faeces. He
was then taken to Kalang Hospital which is the nearest
hospital from his resident. But apparently, because he did
not have UNHCR card and could not communicate
properly, he was not registered by the hospital. He
approached UNHCR office on December 22, 2008 in order
to re-issue a new UNHCR card.
Image: Funeral service at Seramban Cemetery
According to the eye witnesses; the UNHCR security
guards and those who came to the office, he arrived to the
UNHCR office at around 3:00 pm in the after noon. He
waited the officer who would meet him in front of the office
about 10 minutes; unexpectedly he fall down and stopped
breathing. The immediate cause is not known. It was
believed that he died right there. His body was then
immediately carried to the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital
where his death was officially confirmed.
December 28, 2008
Ye Thew (34 years old), is from Nga Leng village, Matupi
township, Chin State, Myanmar. He had claimed in the
UNCHR office that he left his country of nationality Myanmar
and came to Malaysia in 1998 because his life was
threatened. He remained in Malaysia illegal as he was afraid
of returning home as he could be arrested and tortured upon
his return. He was feeling serious depression since he was
rejected in US-DHS interview in early this year. He went to
Alliance of Chin Refugee Center several times and told them
that he was bewitched by someone who fought him in the
detention and his dreams were unusual.
Matupi Christian Fellowship, Malaysia buried his body at
Seramban cemetery in Christian custom on December 24,
2008.
A meaningful Christmas for the desperate Chin
refugees in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 25, 2008
Chin refugees celebrate Christmas in their respective places
of worship services on December 25, 2008-the Christmas
Day. There are different places of Chin Christian worship
service in Malaysia where the desperate refugee community
members get spiritual strength and comfort. The worship
services differ according to the different dialects and places.
The following were list of Chin-refugees worship services in
Malaysia.
01. Chin Christian Fellowship (There are 3 CCF services)
02. Dai Christian Fellowhsip
03. Falam Christian Fellowship
04. Hriphi Christian Fellowhip
05. Lai Christian Fellowship
06. Lautu Christian Fellowship
07. Matu Christian Fellowship
08. Mara Christian Fellowship
09. Mindat-Kanpetlet Christian Felloship
10. Mizo Christian Fellowship
11. Senthang Christian Fellowship
12. Zomi Christian Fellowship (12 different places)
13. Zophei Christian Fellowship
14. Zotung Christian Fellowship
VOCR collected the information that about 500-600 Chin
refugees in average were celebrating Christmas in those
different places of Christian fellowships. On Christmas day
even those who had never been to worship services came
and enjoy with the communities. A Chin asylum-seeker who
came from Jahor Bahru after hearing a message Christ for
the Refugees said, "I have been here in Malaysia for 2 years,
I have never been to worship services even though I am a
Christian. It is really happy and meaningful for me because I
am reminded again that Jesus was born also for refugees. I
am really enjoy" The Chin pastors, a post graduate Chin
theological student who visited Malaysia and a few
evangelists who came to Malaysia to preach the gospel were
also present in this year Christmas. The Christmas
celebration is wholly held in Christian worship service.
Page 2 VOCR Weekly Newsletter(Vol. 1, Issue 1) December 28, 2008
Football match: UNHCR interpreters vs. Chin-Mizo Refugee Community
December 27, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Image 2: Interpreter football team
UNHCR interpreters, who say, "we are the bridge that links two different
languages", and the Mizo Refugee Community had football competition in
the evening of December 27, 2008. The UNHCR interpreters were assisted
by the UNHCR security guards and sometimes by a few UNHCR officers.
The match began at 4:00 pm in the evening and ended with a victory from
UNHCR interpreters in (6:4). UNHCR interpreters also include interpreters
from IRC that handles OPE services, and IOM. The interpreter's coach
who is also the goal keeper said, "The match is intended just for our
physical exercises but it also helps us to have a team spirit and have a
new touch with the different refugee communities."

There are over 30 Chin interpreters in Malaysia UNHCR office. They are
assisting the UNCHR office voluntarily. There were also interpreters from
Somali, Afghanistan, Iraq and other ethnic people from Burma. The UNHCR interpreter football team had matches with other
refugee communities such as CRC, ACR, KRC etc… The guards are from Nepal and their appearance is similar to the Chin.

Burma News: Basic Information:

The Burmese military-spies sent to Thailand
A secret letter, from the Yangon Division SPDC office to
assist the spies, sent to Myawaddy town SPDC office was
discovered and posted by The New Era Website; an anti-
Burmese military website. It was mentioned that the letter
was discovered from one of the military officer. The letter is
with an official round seal and signature seal of the Chairman
from Yangon Division SPDC office.
Image 3 Yangon Division SPDC letter
According to the letter, 20 spies were sent out of the country
to Thailand through Myawaddy town in order to perform
important case and they should be assisted in any necessary
things. The letter includes their names. The anti-Burmese
military blog and web said that they were sent to investigate
the underground political activists who come to Burma-Thai
border and attend different trainings, and sent the
information; such as the place, organization that held the
program and place of the office, back to the military office as
swiftly as possible.
It continued that this military secret emissary program was
monitored by a Burmese military General Maung Oo and the
team was lead by police officer Than Tun who transferred
from the arm force to police.
It was also said that the spies were assisted to cross the
border by the DKBA(Developed Karen Buddhist Army) and
able to come and stay at different places in Mesok town such
as clinic and factory. With in this year, Phado Mhanshar a
prominent Karen leader was assassinated at his home in
near the Thai-Burma border. (Ref: Soneseayar Blog, Dec 24, 08)
VOCR weekly newsletter is issued and owned by VOCR news group which
is an independent news agency focusing on the Chin refugees in Malaysia.
Basic Facts about Refugees in Malaysia
According to the description of statistic record in UNHCR
official website there are over 40 thousands refugees and
asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.
There are still thousands of unregistered asylum-seekers
yet.
"As of end July 2008, there are some 41,400 refugees
and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.
36,500 are from Myanmar, comprising some 13,400
Rohingyas from the Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar,
13,400 Chins, 4,000 Myanmar Muslims and the
remaining are other ethnic minorities from Myanmar.
There are some 4,900 refugees and asylum-seekers
from other countries, including some 1,900 Sri Lankans,
580 Somalis and 570 Iraqis. 67% of refugees and
asylum-seekers are men, while 33% are women. There
are some 11,200 children below the age of
18."(unhcr.org.my)
In Malaysia there is only one free clinic for refugees
called ACTS clinic which is available 5 days in a week.
The clinic is closed on Friday and Saturday and opened
on the rest days. The clinic is closely co-operated with
UNHCR office. There are other humanitarian clinics for
refugees that are available only a few days in a week.
It is known that the death of Chin refugees and asylum-
seeker in Malaysia mark the highest number in this year
2008. The HIV/AID and TB patients also have increased.
Editorial,
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!
The Voice of Chin Refugees Weekly Newsletter has
born to you in this wonderful season of Christmas and
Happy New Year. May the world and all the readers
hear the voices of desperate refugees through this
weekly newsletter. You will read the news concern
about Chin refugees in Malaysia every week.
Contact Us: VOCR News Agency
Email: vocrnews@gmail.com,
Phone: 006016-9160018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia