A year in Malaysia

I met a family this week from Burma, a Chin family. I haven't had much chance to know the Chin people yet. Most who have arrived have been single men. There have been occasional couples or couples +1.

I was with the volunteers who welcomed this new family. We will call them Mary and Lian Thang. After we set up their apartment the volunteers sat down with the family and talked with them for a little bit. Mary and Lian Thang had met at university- they were from different people groups and spoke different languages, but they both also spoke Burmese. Apparently when they were attacked they fled to Malaysia, as many of the Chin do. They were in Malaysia for 1 year.

This particular volunteer welcomes about 3-5 families a year and heard a lot of stories. I could tell that she was not all that impressed with the fact that they had been in Malaysia for only a year. I think the family could see this as well because Lian Thang started to say more about how it was a long time and he began to stumble a little over his words. I could see by the look in his eyes that this was very uncomfortable and getting too personal. I jumped in and told the volunteers that it was a difficult situation and that it probably took even longer to be able to get out of Burma, and I tried to change the subject. The family relaxed a little.

No matter how many times you tell some volunteers that it is inappropriate to ask refugees certain questions- the very day they step off the plane... The volunteer then asked why they fled, so I cut her off, and answered on their behalf that there was a war in Burma, the government is corrupt is targeting certain ethnic minorities. "It is not safe, they had to go." I say this often. But, this is my job, getting the volunteers interested enough to want to stay involved, but also helping the interaction not become so awkward that no one wants to return, it's a fine line- and though my ministry is to the volunteer, it is hard not to want to smack them over the head sometimes and say- "What the heck is wrong with you??? Why would you ask someone you just met to reveal their deepest darkest pains???!?" Cross-cultural issues aside even! Seriously!

Anyways, I had the opportunity to see the couple the next day as I was eating with one of the M. Burmese. I asked them how long they were married (usually a safe question- as marriage and/or lack there of is all I hear about from refugees!) They began to tell a bit of their story.
I had studied up on the Chin and the conflict they are involved with a few months back. I often do this for the "group of the moment" and last summer we had alot of single Chin guys arriving. I researched it out of necessity because, unfortunately no one is all that thrilled about welcoming single men- so you have to have a story to, in a way, "sell" them. It is terrible, but a reality in my world. What I had never known about was the situation in Malaysia. I always stopped in Burma. Most of our refugee families from around the world have been wareshoused in refugee camps set up by the UN for several years. The official average is 5 years in a camp, though I have personally met very few families who have been in a camp less that 10. The Burundi's have been warehoused for 36 years!

I guess I had always assumed that there was a camp in Malaysia as well. According to Mary and Lian Thang the Malaysian government will not allow the UN to set up a refugee camp. Refugees who flee to Malaysia are there illegally and live in fear of being found out by the police. If they are caught, they are imprisoned, sent back to Burma, or killed. The UN has an office in Malaysia that has to be checked in with on regular intervals.

Mary and Lian Thang told me that they are having a hard time sleeping because of the nightmares of being found out by the police. They cannot imagine that in America the police are people who they, not only don't have to run from if they are seen, but are people they can actually call for help. They told stories of not being able to sleep for more than a few hours while in Malaysia because the police would find you and cut the door open and everyone would have to run. They would go from place to place so as to not be found out.

Imagine, not only fleeing genocide, but then having to hide in another country until your case is decided. The fact that people choose to stay in this situation in Malaysia is really telling about how bad the alternative is! If they left Malaysia, they would likely have no hope of resettlement, but if they stay... To stay in that situation must mean that resettlement is their only hope. I looked at them and said, "Wow! A year in Malaysia is really a long time !" They told more stories about people who were found out and imprisoned or sent to walk to Thailand etc...
I told them I had noticed that when we have Karen families arrive they usually have lots of children, but with the Chin it is usually singles or couples and maybe one young baby. The Karen flee to Thailand where there are camps because it is close. Lian Thang told me that families with children would never make it in Malaysia so they can't go there. I asked them if they have more family in Malaysia and he looked down and said, "No, they are in Myanmar and cannot get out"

Mary and Lian Thang are here now, day 4 in America- They won't have to run anymore. I asked them if they will stay in this area or move elsewhere and Mary's response was, "We will stay everlasting!" So sweet! They will soon learn that life in America brings with it a whole new set of issues. As of right now, they have no American friends to help them navigate through the craziness that is this new life. I pray for more volunteers to give an hour or two a week.