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Police aim to quell Burmese refugees' fear

By Aidan Craney

 MELBOURNE - Newly arrived Burmese refugees are so frightened of police that they do not report crime, ask for help or even talk to police, a senior multicultural liaison officer, Sen. Const. Joey Herrech, said today.

 

‘Difficulties with the Burmese communities are related to the long-term civil oppression imposed by the government and law enforcement in Burma.’ he said.

 
Sen. Const. Herrech said Victoria Police is tackling the fear barrier through its regional Multicultural Liaison Units (MLUs), that operate with maximum respect and diplomacy in dealing with the refugees. In 2006-2007 alone 1,629 people of Burmese origin settled in Australia, the majority being granted humanitarian visas.
 
He has worked in one of the most sensitive areas - at Mae La refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border, in an arrangement with the International Organisation for Migration which facilitates cultural training for refugees soon to arrive in Australia.
 
Throughout his time there Sen. Const. Herrech wore his full police uniform to assist in recognition of police and ‘desensitising’ individuals who had suffered at the hands of authority.  He talked through interpreters to refugees heading to Victoria. about the role of police, rights and responsibilities, reporting crime, interaction with police, personal safety, driving and basic laws.
 
 
 The MLUs are educating both police and the Burmese communities. They aim ‘to actively promote and maintain a harmonious relationship between police and Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities based on mutual understanding, respect, trust and tolerance.’
 
Sen. Const. Herrech said Burmese people’s distrust of authority through three generations of living under the rule of a military junta could hopefully be obliterated by creating
mutual understanding and respect.
 
 
CONTACT: Victoria Police’s Multicultural Advisory Unit file://c:/Users/aggie/AppData/Local/Temp/Low/__SkypeIEToolbar_Cache/e70d...)">file://c:/Users/aggie/AppData/Local/Temp/Low/__SkypeIEToolbar_Cache/e70d...)"> (03) 9247 5233 .