THE National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) said the actions of the Malaysian Navy in pushing back to sea a boat carrying Rohingya refugees on April 16 was in violation of international law obligations to provide access to asylum seekers.
The International Court of Justice had ruled that the Rohingyas were “extremely vulnerable” to military violence, and faced the threat of genocide.
“Sending them back to a territory where they would be at risk of such dire human rights violations clearly falls afoul of general international human rights as well as customary international law,” said HAKAM in a statement today.
HAKAM also raised its concern on the backlash received by the Ambassador to Malaysia of The European Rohingya Council Tengku Emma Zuriana Tengku Azmi who expressed her organisation’s objection to the treatment received by the Rohingyas.
“Regretfully, instead of a civil and balanced reasoned discussion or response, her statement was visited upon by a sustained barrage of vitriolic abuse which transcended into personal, aggressive, racist and sexist comments. It even incited criminal acts of rape and physical violence against her person,” added HAKAM.
It also said the vicious attacks incited public disorder and undermined morality. They also run counter to the freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 10(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
HAKAM said it demands that the government, in particular the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the MCMC, act firmly and swiftly against bigoted and xenophobic attacks against refugees; and the perpetrators of scurrilous attacks against those who champion their cause, including the ambassador. It also seeks action against some elements of the media especially social media for carrying out a full-scale anti-Rohingya campaign.
HAKAM also asks the government to reverse its pushback policy against refugees and to follow international human rights laws and obligations. As has been suggested by several organisations and the ambassador, the health needs of this vulnerable group must be humanely addressed. They could be quarantined for health checks preceding their assessment for the grant of refugee status.
HAKAM added that the Covid-19 pandemic cannot under any circumstance be a shield for the people to lose their sense of humanity and respect for the rule of law. — April 28, 2020
