Red Cross raises alarm on illegals<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta\/Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
About 8,000 Indonesians, recently expelled from Malaysia
\nfollowing a crackdown on illegal immigrants, are stranded in
\nborder camps, resulting in many becoming ill with malaria and
\ntuberculosis, the Red Cross stated on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The workers have packed into six camps in Nunukan, a district
\nin East Kalimantan province bordering Malaysia, a spokesman for
\nthe International Committee of the Red Cross, Virgil Grandfield,
\ntold AFP.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chairman Mar'ie Muhammad described
\nthe situation along the border as "terrible, with migrants packed
\ntogether like sardines".<\/p>\n
The PMI has been running four health posts and one mobile
\nclinic in Nunukan for a month, treating 3,949 persons suffering
\nfrom diseases such as malaria, dengue, tuberculosis and
\npneumonia, Grandfield stated.<\/p>\n
He said he expected the number of workers arriving at Nunukan
\nto "skyrocket in the next days and hours".<\/p>\n
Nunukan is a key entry point for Indonesian migrant workers
\ncoming to and from Malaysia. Most of those in the camps do not
\nhave enough money to return to their villages and are hoping to
\nreturn to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris
\nsaid at least 449 Indonesian illegal migrants were netted in a
\ncrackdown by Malaysian authorities.<\/p>\n
He added that it should take no more than 14 days to
\ninvestigate the detained Indonesians.<\/p>\n
"If some of them possess passports, they will be directly
\ndeported. But those failing to show required documents, they will
\nbe taken to court," Fahmi said.<\/p>\n
He said the government has prepared a team of 26 lawyers to
\nassist the Indonesian workers facing trial in the neighboring
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The minister lamented the fact that so many illegal workers
\ndefied the Feb. 28 amnesty deadline.<\/p>\n
"We had several times told them to return home first to
\narrange for their working permits. After that, they would have
\nbeen able to return to Malaysia to claim their salaries -- with
\nour assistance," he said.<\/p>\n
"It's up to them if they don't want to return home. The
\ngovernment cannot help them anymore."<\/p>\n
The rights group Amnesty International last month urged
\nMalaysia to halt the planned deportation amid fears that migrants
\nfrom conflict zones like Myanmar, Nepal and Aceh could face
\nexecution or torture when sent home.<\/p>\n
But Malaysia has dismissed such fears.<\/p>\n
Rights groups have also expressed concern that the massive
\ncrackdown would lead to abuse.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Home Minister Azmi Khalid said on Thursday that the
\nroundup of illegal foreign workers was proceeding smoothly
\nwithout any reported cases of mistreatment, which human rights
\ngroups feared might occur.<\/p>\n
"So far, we have not heard any unpleasant stories," he said as
\nquoted by AP. "I would urge the teams involved in the operations
\nto protect the country's name so that our actions are respected
\nby our neighbors and the international community."<\/p>\n
Azmi declined to reveal how many illegal migrants had been
\nnabbed so far in a nationwide crackdown that began after a four-
\nmonth amnesty ended at midnight Monday.<\/p>\n
Malaysia had estimated there were nearly a million illegal
\nworkers in the country, mostly from Indonesia but also from the
\nPhilippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
Over 380,000 took advantage of the amnesty, which started at
\nthe end of October, and left without any penalties. But hundreds
\nof thousands of illegal immigrants remain, many of them in the
\nconstruction, plantation and service industries with menial jobs
\nthat many Malaysians refuse to do.<\/p>",
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