Tiger terrorists hold UNHCR refugee cards:

UN body declines comment

The UN body for refugees said that it was unable to comment on the suspected LTTE terrorists holding their official refugee status cards. Three Tiger terrorists with international refugee cards were apprehended by the local authorities recently.

The Star Online reported that there are 4,280 Sri Lankan refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. They comprise about three percent of the 145,025 foreigners who have UNHCR cards as at May.

Most UNHCR cardholders in Malaysia are from Myanmar (134,430) while the rest are from Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. About 70 percent are men and 30 percent women. Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said that of the 14 LTTE members arrested this year, seven had used UNHCR cards.

UNHCR spokesman in Kuala Lumpur, Yante Ismail said the organisation was unable to comment on the suspected Tamil Tiger leaders with UNHCR cards, adding that it was the body’s policy not to publicly comment on individual cases involving asylum-seekers and refugees.

“On principle, refugee protection is for those who are in genuine need of international protection when they have been forced to flee their countries.

“Refugee protection is not extended to those who have committed very serious crimes,” she was quoted as saying. Yante said any inquiry into refugee status would involve a careful assessment of all relevant facts, through a fair process, to decide whether protection was needed.

Malaysian law enforcing officials have launched a hunt for more suspected LTTE cadres after a crackdown on the Tamil militant group led to the arrest of seven persons in the last two months in the country.Four suspected Tiger terrorists, including a man allegedly involved in the 1999 assassination attempt on the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga at a political rally in Town Hall, were arrested on Thursday.

The Malaysia Police believe that the Tigers were trying to revive their militarily defeat outfit using Malaysia as a transit point, hideout and a new base of operation.

According to UNHCR sources in Malaysia, registered refugees and asylum seekers could move freely as they were not in camps. The organisation said refugees were unable to work legally, but had access to the informal work sector and opportunities for self-reliance.

Refugees normally share living spaces in groups of 40 people or more in low-cost flats or housing areas. Many also live near the construction sites or plantations where they seek employment.

According to a social worker who spoke on the condition of anonymity Sri Lankan Tamil refugees arrived in droves in Malaysia some 10 to 15 years ago, seeking to move to other countries.