{"id":25956,"date":"2017-04-04T09:46:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T09:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=25956"},"modified":"2017-04-04T09:46:00","modified_gmt":"2017-04-04T09:46:00","slug":"malaysia-rights-panel-disturbed-600-deaths-prisons-detention-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/malaysia-rights-panel-disturbed-600-deaths-prisons-detention-centers.html","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia rights panel disturbed over more than 600 deaths in prisons and detention centers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMalaysia rights panel disturbed over more than 600 deaths in prisons and detention centers<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
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\n\tMalaysia rights panel disturbed over more than 600 deaths in prisons and detention centers:- Malaysia's national human rights panel on Tuesday said it was disturbed by more than 600 deaths at immigration detention centers and prisons over the last two years, and called for immediate reform.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIn its 2016 annual report, the panel, known by its Malay acronym, Suhakam, said there were more than 100 deaths in immigration detention centers and 521 deaths in prisons in 2015 and 2016. Twelve people died in police lock-ups in 2015.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tLast week, citing documents from Suhakam, Reuters reported that 118 foreigners, including undocumented workers, refugees and asylum seekers, had died at detention centers in the last two years. More than half the dead were from Myanmar.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSuhakam said deaths mostly stemmed from diseases in all prisons and detention centers, where the government should look to improve conditions and healthcare.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"There is little interest in the human rights of detainees," said Chairman Razali Ismail. "This attitude is reflected in government budgetary priorities and the resources made available for the running and upkeep of all places of detention."<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tParticularly in immigration detention centers, people spent long periods unable to move freely or sleep comfortably in overcrowded cells, he said, where conditions sometimes deteriorated to become "inhumane".<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe government did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Suhakam's report, published on Tuesday.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tFormer detainees, government agencies and rights groups have told Reuters of grim living conditions in detention camps that are overcrowded and unhygienic.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSome said they received insufficient food, water or healthcare, and many developed skin and lung infections, or contagious diseases. All those interviewed also alleged they were beaten by camp guards or saw others being beaten.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSuhakam documents reviewed by Reuters showed detainees died from lung infections, heart-related conditions and the bacterial disease leptospirosis. No cause was attributed for 50 deaths.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tLast week, deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed told Reuters his ministry had hit a budget brick wall in efforts to improve conditions in immigration detention centers.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMalaysia's 13 detention centers had a total of 86,795 detainees during various periods in 2016, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission says.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"UNFIT AND UNSAFE"<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tTwo of the detention centers Suhakam visited last year were in dilapidated condition, the agency said in its report.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThree blocks of a detention center in southern Johor state, and two blocks on northern Penang island were held "unfit and unsafe for occupation," by the Public Works Department, it added.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe rights agency said the immigration department last week informed it of "major reforms," such as better healthcare and repair of dilapidated structures.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSoutheast Asia-based migrant and refugee protection group Fortify Rights urged a criminal investigation into the deaths.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"Malaysian authorities could begin tackling this by ending arbitrary and indefinite detention of migrants, including refugees and survivors of trafficking," Executive Director Amy Smith said in a statement.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSource:- http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-malaysia-detention-deaths-idUSKBN1760S3<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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