I received this letter from a Rohingya refugee in Malaysia, and felt it was important to share his story with his permission to do so.  Please forward to your MPs.

Re: Seeking resettlement in Canada   

Dear Sir,  

With great humility and admiration for Your Excellency’s honorable office, I am writing this letter to seek Your Excellency’s kind assistance to help my stateless family seek a new life in Canada.

I am a registered and recognized refugee of Burmese Rohingya ethnicity with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. I am a life long victim of statelessness and gross human rights violations and in particular, a life long victim of my family isolation and persecutions. I have been leading my vulnerable life as a stateless person and a refugee from 1978 till now. I am in dire need of a concrete solution to my family reunification as well as emergency self-protection, for my life is under constant threat in Malaysia.

I have in the past submitted many papers to your good office seeking resettlement to a third country or have my case refereed to the concerned quarters. Unfortunately, the UNHCR was unable to help me at that time because the Malaysian government had then assured the UNHCR that it would provide temporary local solution for Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. But, until now, there is no such solution whatsoever; I believe the Malaysian government is still assuring the UNHCR that it would provide an imminent local solution to the Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. Therefore, the UNHCR said that it was unable to help seek resettlement for Rohingya refugees in any third country. However, a UNHCR resettlement officer Ms.Yukiko asked me if I had any relative in the concerned third countries. I was also advised by a UNHCR officer from Geneva to submit my  papers to the concerned quarters for my resettlement, as UNHCR could not do much although I am badly in need of emergency protection measures and a  concrete solution to resolve my predicament.

In Malaysia, I have become a constant victim of security threats, as well as socio-political,  economic and health problems. Most probably, you may have noticed my weak and unhealthy physique on February 13, 2009 during the refugee community representatives’ meeting with UNHCR at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur. My family and I have become victims of repeated arrests and deportation. My young wife is living in constant risk and threat to her life in Bangladesh. My first child, who is now six years old, celebrated his birthday on Jan 12 without his parents around. He has been separated from both his parents since his birth. My second child, also a boy, was separated from me soon after his birth and I do not have any possibility of a family reunification here in Malaysia. This is mainly because the Malaysian  government has yet to grant us refugee status. Thus, my two beloved little sons are currently victims of family isolation.   My sons are now in the Bangladesh Kutu Palong Refugees camp with my elders. My wife and sons were unable to register themselves with the UNHCR office in Bangladesh despite going there several times. Only with their UNHCR registration in Bangladesh and with my resettlement in any third country, I will be able to see my two lovely kids.

They (my sons) will lose  me completely if I continue to face security problems in Malaysia. The Immigration officials here often arrest, detain and deport refugees despite saying that will not arrest, detain and deport refugees with UNHCR protection cards. I have solid evidence in my hands that immigration officers have and had arrested, detained and deported refugees with UNHCR protection cards to Thailand. My people are victims of such abuse and we have no one else to turn to. The Myanmar authorities do not consider us their citizens and they refuse to accept us back from the country of our asylum.  Fortunately, I have managed to escape to  the harrowing “operasi” (sudden raids) conducted by the Malaysian  immigration officers on the three occasions. However, I will no longer be able to contact my family and children for three to four years, if I get arrested and deported to Thailand. This is because refugees who are unable to pay money to human traffickers between the  Malaysian and Thai border are sold off to Thai fishing trawlers for three to five years.

I am a poor teacher, and have served for 12 years as a volunteer teacher and community health worker (CHW). I possess a Diploma in Medicine and have practiced for two years as a rural doctor. I have some students and friends in Canada,  who are very much concerned over my unfortunate plight. Sadly, they are not my family members and have told me of the new life that they found in  Canada. But, they are unable to help me resettle in  Canada as per immigration procedures, they said.  Hence, this helpless and hopeful refugee is seeking Your Excellency’s grace, mercy, and favor to be upon him and his family. Sometimes, I just  wonder if it a sin to be born poor or am I just being cursed for the sins of my forefathers, only God knows.  

I humbly pray and do hope that Your Excellency would find in your heart to help me seek necessary advice and show me that right decision to fulfill my desire to seek resettlement in Canada. Hopefully, God will someday reunite me with my wife and two sons  to start life anew in a peacefully and safe environment. And, if I ever  had an opportunity to see God’s face, I wish it would be Your Excellency’s. I beg Your Excellency’s kind consideration and support. Words would not be sufficient to describe my sincerest and  heartfelt gratitude to Your Excellency for helping me find a solution to  my plight. With a thankful heart and a grateful soul,  I honestly pray and that our Almighty God will bless Your Excellency abundantly for your kindness.  

Yours faithfully Abdul Hashim s/o Abdul Motalib

Date of Birth: 03/30/1976

UN Ref:  354-07C04892