Photograph by Simon Wheatley.
NO REFUGE: BURMESE REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA
Photography Exhibition
Featuring photos by Greg Constantine, Halim Berbar, Rahman Roslan, Simon Wheatley & Zhuang Wubin
Thu 15 to Sun 25 Oct
Sun to Thu, 11am to 8pm
Fri & Sat, 11am to 9.30pm
Presented By SUARAM and The Annexe Gallery
Admission Free
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When one complains about human rights abuses in Malaysia, many Malaysians like to claim that at least we are better off than Burma. That is however not true for Burmese refugees in Malaysia. They may have escaped the horrors of living under the military rule of the junta in Burma, but here in Malaysia they live a life of fear all over again. As Malaysia is not a signatory of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Burmese refugees do not have rights in this country. Because of this, they are subject to all sorts of abuses, both by the authorities and fellow Malaysians.
Forced to hide in crammed apartments or makeshift encampments in forests, refugees live in constant fear of being detained by the Malaysian police, immigration officers and RELA volunteers. When caught, they are often abused, extorted for money, or sent to overcrowded and unhygienic detention centres. Sometimes they are even sold to human traffickers as slave labour or prostitutes. As the deplorable situation of Burmese refugees in Malaysia gains international attention, it’s high time for us to examine the human suffering we are causing.
NO REFUGE, presented by SUARAM and The Annexe Gallery, aims to highlight the plight of Burmese refugees through the works of five photographers: Greg Constantine (USA), Halim Berbar (France), Rahman Roslan (Malaysia), Simon Wheatley (UK), and Zhuang Wubin (Singapore). The works are photojournalistic documents of the living conditions of a people who are forced to flee to our hospitable country, but have yet to find refuge or hope here.
The exhibition will also mark the launch of a petition to the Malaysian Government to recognise refugees and to sign the 1951 UN Convention Relation to the Status of Refugees.
Parts of the proceeds of the sale of the photographs will be channeled to SUARAM's campaign to advocate for the rights of Burmese refugees.
Forced to hide in crammed apartments or makeshift encampments in forests, refugees live in constant fear of being detained by the Malaysian police, immigration officers and RELA volunteers. When caught, they are often abused, extorted for money, or sent to overcrowded and unhygienic detention centres. Sometimes they are even sold to human traffickers as slave labour or prostitutes. As the deplorable situation of Burmese refugees in Malaysia gains international attention, it’s high time for us to examine the human suffering we are causing.
NO REFUGE, presented by SUARAM and The Annexe Gallery, aims to highlight the plight of Burmese refugees through the works of five photographers: Greg Constantine (USA), Halim Berbar (France), Rahman Roslan (Malaysia), Simon Wheatley (UK), and Zhuang Wubin (Singapore). The works are photojournalistic documents of the living conditions of a people who are forced to flee to our hospitable country, but have yet to find refuge or hope here.
The exhibition will also mark the launch of a petition to the Malaysian Government to recognise refugees and to sign the 1951 UN Convention Relation to the Status of Refugees.
Parts of the proceeds of the sale of the photographs will be channeled to SUARAM's campaign to advocate for the rights of Burmese refugees.
For more information: http://www.annexegallery.com
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