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DE RUEHKL #0799/01 2540956
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P 100956Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1625
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000799 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MTS, PRM, G/TIP, H 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2018 
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KTIP BM TH MY
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL LUSE DISCUSSES TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE 
 
REFUGEES 
 
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 786 - STAFFDEL LUSE ENGAGES GOM 
     ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 495 - ALLEGED TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE 
     ¶C. KUALA LUMPUR 147 - TIP REPORT 
 
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, Reason 1.4 (b and 
 d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) Keith Luse, Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee, visited Malaysia August 25-31 to 
investigate reports of the trafficking of Burmese refugees to 
Thailand and the alleged involvement of Malaysian Immigration 
officials in such trafficking, as previously reported by 
Embassy (ref B).  The United Nations High Commission for 
Refugees (UNHCR), NGOs, refugees and activists provided 
information and accounts of refugees trafficked to the Thai 
border from Immigration detention centers in Malaysia.  The 
local observers all described the situation as serious, 
recurring, and involving a large number of Burmese refugees. 
Senior Malaysian Immigration officials denied the 
allegations, but requested further information for their 
follow-up during a meeting with Luse on August 29.  In 
separate meetings, Luse informed Ramlan Ibrahim, 
Undersecretary for Southeast Asian Affairs in the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Kamal Khalid, Head of the 
Communications Unit in the Prime Minister's Office of the 
upcoming Senate report on alleged trafficking of Burmese 
refugees in Malaysia.  Luse also met with Thai officials in 
the border town of Sungai Golok, who shared information on 
trafficking cases involving Burmese refugees in that border 
region.  Luse expressed interest in identifying ways the U.S. 
could provide additional assistance to Burmese refugees in 
Malaysia to improve their conditions.  Post will provide 
specific suggestions separately.  Staffdel Luse's visit was 
very useful in bringing the Burmese refugee problem to the 
attention of senior GOM officials.  The visit builds on 
Post's efforts to date to highlight the issue and work with 
local NGOs and the UNHCR on ways to improve refugee 
protection, including in conjunction with the major U.S. 
resettlement program for Burmese refugees.  End Summary. 
 
Trafficking Allegations 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) During his August 25-31 visit to Malaysia and 
Thailand, Mr. Luse sought information related to reports by 
resettled Burmese refugees that, with the involvement of 
Malaysian Immigration officers, Burmese refugees have been 
trafficked to the Thai-Malaysian border.  Luse met with 
various NGOs, activists, refugees, and the UNHCR Acting 
Country Representative and discussed these allegations, along 
with the general refugee situation in Malaysia and at the 
border.  The meetings generally corroborated allegations that 
lower level Malaysian immigration officials are involved in 
trafficking of Burmese refugees, in line with information 
previously reported by Post (ref. B).  Local activists, Alice 
Nah and Eric Paulsen, and NGO representatives from Tenaganita 
told Luse in separate meetings the traffickers included Thai, 
Malaysian, and Burmese nationals. 
 
¶3.  (C) Sources described incidents in which lower level 
Immigration officials transport Burmese refugees from 
Immigration Detention Centers (IDC) using official vehicles. 
The same officials then take the group of refugees to the 
border, usually between 1 and 3 a.m., where they are handed 
over to traffickers operating from the Thai side of the 
border.  Immigration officials received between 400-700 
ringgit ($125-220) per refugee.  The size of the refugee 
group sold to the traffickers averaged between 45 - 100 
persons, including men, women, and children.  The traffickers 
would then allow the refugees the chance to contact someone 
in Malaysia that could pay a ransom of 1500-1900 ringgit 
($470-600) per person.  Those able to pay were smuggled back 
into Malaysia and released.  Human rights activists Eric 
Paulsen and Alicia Nah each estimated about 20 percent of the 
refugees handed over to traffickers are unable to pay the 
ransom.  Those unable to pay were sold to the Thai fishing 
industry, factories, farms, or plantations if a man. 
Traffickers allegedly sell women to brothels, hotels, and 
into domestic servitude.  Some sources indicated traffickers 
might force some children to work as child beggars in Bangkok 
and elsewhere.  (Note: This last allegation remains unclear 
as many sources told us they did not have firm information on 
what happened to children.  In some cases, the children stay 
with their mother and returned to Malaysia for a lower 
ransom.  End Note.)  The UNHCR, Jesuit Relief Services local 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000799  002 OF 003 
 
 
affiliate, A.C.T.S., Tenaganita, and individual human rights 
activists believe the allegations are accurate.  Refugees 
that described their experiences being sent to the border to 
Poloff and Luse closely match the allegations of trafficking. 
 (Note: The allegations are also very similar written 
statements alleging Immigration officers handing over Burmese 
refugees as early as 1995.  End Note.) 
 
GOM Informed of Possible U.S. Senate Actions 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In separate meetings, Luse informed Ramlan Ibrahim, 
Undersecretary for Southeast Asian Affairs in the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Kamal Khalid, Head of the 
Communications Unit in the Prime Minister's Office of the 
upcoming Senate report on alleged trafficking of Burmese 
refugees in Malaysia.  On both occasions, the Malaysian 
officials focused the discussion on broader issues.  Ramlan 
spoke about the general immigration problems Malaysia faces; 
especially undocumented economic migrants.  (Note: The GOM 
repeatedly has raised pull-factor concerns during our 
discussions on Malaysian refugee policy.  End Note.) 
 
Immigration Chiefs Deny Allegations 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Luse met with Director-General for Immigration 
Mahmood Adam and Immigration Enforcement Director Ishak 
Mohamad on August 29 to discuss the trafficking allegations. 
Both men categorically denied involvement of Immigration 
officials in the trafficking of Burmese refugees.  Mahmood 
claimed the government paid Immigration officers well, with 
newly employed officers earning about 1,300 ringgit per month 
(about $400).  He indirectly tried to implicate the People's 
Volunteer Corps (RELA), a para-military auxiliary, noting its 
members augment Immigration's work force in IDCs by providing 
guards.  Luse stated that U.S. law enforcement officials had 
written statements from trafficking victims, phone numbers, 
and bank account numbers of some of the traffickers.  Ishak 
requested information that Malaysian authorities could use to 
investigate the allegations.  Luse asked about the level of 
UNHCR access to IDCs.  Ishak assured Luse UNHCR members had 
full access to IDCs as long as they wrote in advance to 
coordinate visits.  He also told Luse that the UNHCR did not 
have a right to inspect IDCs, as they operated under 
Malaysian law.  (Note: Malaysia does not recognize refugee 
status, including those registered with the UNHCR.  Burmese 
refugees are subject to arrest as illegal migrants.  End 
Note.)  Mahmood Adam did express his gratitude for the 
advanced warning of the upcoming Senate report and possible 
Senate hearings. 
 
Luse at Thai-Malaysian Border 
----------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) On August 30, Luse traveled from Kota Bharu into 
Southern Thailand where he met with Thai police officials in 
the town of Sungai Golok.  According to Luse in a debrief he 
gave poloff after the visit, the Thai police provided 
information, including photos and documents, on the 2005 
arrests of three traffickers who had victimized Burmese 
nationals.  The police offered to follow up on any specific 
information available. 
 
Post Actions on Refugees 
------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (C) Staffdel Luse's visit was highly useful in bringing 
the Burmese refugee trafficking issue to the attention of 
senior GOM officials.  While Immigration gave no immediate 
indication that they would actively and aggressively take 
steps to deal with this problem, it is clear that Luse's 
presentation, to include the possibility of Senate action in 
the next month or two, has caught their attention.  Luse's 
visit was also an effective follow-on to Post's actions to 
date on this issue, which have included: regular meetings 
with involved NGOs, interviews with refugees, and close 
coordination with UNHCR in conveying concerns over reported 
trafficking of Burmese refugees to Immigration officials 
beginning in May (ref. B).  Post will continue to actively 
follow-up with Immigration, MFA and the PM's office, as 
appropriate, over the coming weeks/months to seek progress in 
ending this practice.  In the broader context of the U.S. 
refugee resettlement program, Post together with UNHCR and 
U.S. Refcoord Bangkok has engaged Malaysian Immigration 
officials to secure the release of refugees held in 
Immigration Detention Centers. 
 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000799  003 OF 003 
 
 
Possible Use of Future Funding 
------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) At the conclusion of his visit, Luse requested post's 
thoughts on possible additional programs to assist Burmese 
refugees in Malaysia.  Currently, the U.S. funds a variety of 
programs to support refugees in Malaysia through the UNHCR 
and, secondarily, through direct grants to civil society 
partners, in all totaling some $540,000.  If made available, 
future funding could be utilized to augment informal refugee 
schools operated by local NGOs, increase medical care, and 
provide legal services.  Post will provide more detailed 
thoughts on this shortly. 
 
¶9.  (U) This message was cleared by Staffdel Luse. 
KEITH