Kuala Lumpur, Oct 23 (DPA) At least six Sri Lankan refugees at a Malaysian detention camp have been on a hunger strike for more than seven days, demanding that they be allowed to meet officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a news report said Friday.
The six detainees, including a woman, are among 108 Sri Lankans currently in the camp located in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor after they were detained at a hotel last month for not having valid travel documents.

The six had claimed they were given documents from the UNHCR granting them refugee status, said E. Silvarajah, coordinator for a local human rights group dealing with the detainees.

Silvarajah said they were now refusing food until they are allowed to meet UNHCR officials to clarify their status and be released, the Star daily said.

When contacted, UNHCR external relations officer Yante Ismail said the case was under investigation, adding that some of the Sri Lankan immigrants had indeed been given refugee status since fleeing the unrest in their homeland.

“We are also working closely with the Malaysian authorities for the release of the Sri Lankan asylum-seekers and refugees there.

“We are currently finalising certain administrative details before the release can be secured,” Yante was quoted as saying by the Star.

She said the organisation would send over officials to speak to the detainees on hunger strike as soon as possible.

Malaysia is both a transit point and permanent asylum for tens of thousands of refugees from countries such as Myanmar and Sri Lanka.