[Kabar-indonesia] Malaysia posse accused of brutality against illegal immigrants [incl:

[Joyo at aol.com]

Indonesians]

Rela accused of brutality against illegal immigrants

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Malaysian civilians volunteering to help
catch illegal immigrants often use excessive force, causing
serious injuries to foreigners from Indonesia, Bangladesh
and Myanmar in recent months, human rights activists said
Wednesday.

A volunteer force of more than 400,000 civilians - known by
its Malay acronym Rela - has in recent years helped police
and immigration officers find and detain suspects. But most
of its members are ill-trained and fail to understand the
need for humanrights protection, said Suaram, Malaysia's
leading rights group.

The volunteers "regularly use brutal methods and excessive
force while arresting migrants," Suaram said in a statement,
adding that it was "a national shame and a dangerous setback
for the promotion and protection of human rights in
Malaysia."

The group cited at least three incidents since July when
suspected illegal immigrants from Indonesia, Bangladesh and
Myanmar were beaten. Most were later discovered to have
valid immigration documents, Suaram added.

Volunteers also often force their way into homes without
warrants, destroy private property and wrongfully detain
suspects, Suaram said, urging officials not to use civilian
volunteers.

Home Ministry officials couldn't immediately be contacted
for comment. But government officials and police have
repeatedly defended the use of civilian volunteers, saying
they have basic instructions on performing their duties and
that rights violations are rare.

Thousands of immigrants come to Malaysia, one of Southeast
Asia's wealthiest nations, seeking employment in
plantations, construction sites, factories and other
industries to escape poverty or instability in their home
countries.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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