Malaysia court allows rights groups to challenge Myanmar deportations

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Malaysia court allows rights groups to challenge
Myanmar deportations



A Malaysian court on 鉊�鉊菽葷鉊毯葷鉆�鉊�鉊﹤葵鉊丞��鉊冢�� Justice Baol granted international human rights groups
permission to challenge the recent deportation of Myanmar nationals, a major step in
a country where the law bars immigration decisions from being questioned in court.

The Malaysian government used three Myanmar navy ships last month to deport 1,086
people it claimed were illegal immigrants. The move came just hours after an interim
court order banning the group's removal, pending a legal bid by Amnesty International
and Asylum Access to halt the plan.

The ruling by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Tuesday paves the way for a full hearing
on the deportations and extends a stay barring the removal of another 114 Myanmar
nationals until the end of the judicial review. Malaysia had initially said it would deport
1,200 people.

The groups' legal bid is unlikely to bring those who have already been deported,
but could allow similar challenges against future removals, New Sin Yew, a lawyer for
the human rights groups, told Reuters.

"It's a very important decision because it recognises the function of non-government
organisations like Asylum Access and Amnesty International and their standing in
bringing judicial review to hold the authorities accountable," New said, as he detailed
the court's decision.