Bar takes Govt to task for deportation

The Star

PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council has accused the Government of violating customary international laws when it deported 11 Chinese nationals of Uighur ethnicity.

“We have our own laws to prosecute foreigners involved in human trafficking,” said its Human Rights Committee chairman Andrew Khoo yesterday.

“There is no reason to deport them back to China where they may face danger,” he said.

On Thursday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein explained that the 11 Chinese nationals were deported last week after they were found to have been involved in human trafficking.

He said the group was wanted by the Chinese government.

Khoo said the Government had gone against the principle of non-refoulement.

Non-refoulement is the protection of refugees against being returned to the place where their lives or freedoms are threatened.

Khoo added that it was surprising that Malaysia deported the Uighurs, who are Muslims, without any concern for their safety.

“It is possible that they (the Chinese nationals) were here because they were afraid their government would take action against them.”