Burmese aid workers request not to send those arrested back to Myanmar.

Burmese aid workers request not to send those arrested back to Myanmar.

Burmese aid workers in Malaysia said they will ask the Malaysian government not to send more than 100 Myanmar nationals who were arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 5th. On August 5, Malaysian immigration authorities raided apartments in Cheras, where most migrant workers live, and 425 foreigners were arrested, including 108 Myanmar nationals.

Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghan, chairman of the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM), said that Rohingyas and UNHCR refugee card holders were among those arrested. "In Myanmar, there is still in bad political situation, I think it is dangerous for these arrested people if they return while the military junta is killing and burning. I request them not to be sent back to Myanmar."

Reportedly, most of the arrested Burmese workers are of Chin ethnicity. According to workers in Malaysia, if they have a valid work permit will be released after two weeks. On August 8, Malaysian social organizations also issued a statement, condemning the Malaysian government for the fact that children were among those arrested for living illegally and that there is no right to arrest children according to children's rights.