Detained Rohingya are valid UNHCR cardholders, say cops
Police in Malaysia confirmed that 126 detained Rohingya refugees possess valid UNHCR documentation after they were rounded up for camping outside the UNHCR office. Amnesty International has criticized the government's response, arguing that the situation should be treated as a humanitarian issue rather than a criminal one.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tension between national immigration enforcement and international humanitarian obligations toward refugees.
The 126 refugees were brought to the city police headquarters last night and screened by the police and UNHCR. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Police today confirmed that all 126 Rohingya refugees detained after camping outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office at Jalan Bukit Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, are valid UNHCR cardholders.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said the refugees were screened by the cops and UNHCR after they were brought to the city police headquarters last night.
"Documentation processes conducted on the Rohingya found that all of them have valid UNHCR documentation," he said in a statement.
"They have been temporarily placed at Dataran Wira at the KL police headquarters. UNHCR is taking further action."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in