New Problem Appears, Foreigner Who Suicide In Ambon Immigration Detention Detention Has Not Been Recognized By Myanmar Government

AMBON - The suicide incident of a foreign national (WNA) Myanmar named Te Mau Dong in the detention center of the Class I Immigration Office in Ambon, Maluku, has created a new problem. The deceased has not received recognition as a citizen of the Government of the Republic of Myanmar.

Head of Immigration Class I Ambon Armand Armada Yoga Surya said it was not clear where Te Mau Dong's body would be buried because it could not be returned to Myanmar if there was no confession.

"Since November the immigration authorities have written to the Embassy of the Republic of Myanmar, but until now there has not been a reply. So far we have only received recognition from Te Mau Dong that he is a Burmese, but without any acknowledgment from his country then he is stateless. " said Armand as quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 30.

Armand explained that Te Mau Dong initially surrendered himself to the authorities at the end of November 2021 and asked to be sent back to Myanmar. During the immigration check, Te Mau Dong admitted that he was born in Natale Myanmar on July 7, 1966 and has been in Ambon since 2013, after escaping from a fishing boat operating in the Maluku sea because he admitted that he was often tortured.

"He lives in the Laha area himself, his job is to help clean the mosque. He is quite proficient in Indonesian," he said.

When he arrived at immigration, he continued, Te Mau Dong did not hold any citizenship documents and only had an acknowledgment as a Burmese.

"Currently, the immigration authorities have reported the death of Te Mau Dong to the Myanmar Embassy and it is hoped that within 1x24 hours there will be an answer so that it is clear where he will be buried," he said.

had run away

Armand explained, because Te Mau Dong did not have a citizenship document, he was placed in the custody of the Ambon Immigration office while waiting for further processing from the Myanmar Embassy. He soon fell ill, but when he was taken to the hospital for treatment, Te Mau Dong fled.

"When he was sick with vomiting and cold sweat, we immediately took him to the Army Hospital in Ambon. But he ran away, even though his condition was still being infused," he said.

He said Te Mau Dong was finally arrested in Piru, West Seram Regency. On December 28, Te Mau Dong was re-entered into immigration detention and on December 30, as planned, he will be transferred to the Makassar Immigration Detention Center, South Sulawesi.

However, only a few hours back in detention, Te Mau Dong chose to end his life by hanging himself in the detention room bathroom. "We have not been able to conclude what caused him to hang himself, the investigation is still being carried out by the police," said Armand.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the Ambon Island Police and PP Lease Ipda I. Leatemia, said that Te Mau Dong's actions were caught on surveillance cameras (CCTV). The police have examined the footage and questioned a number of witnesses.

"The victim is strongly suspected of committing suicide by hanging himself according to the surveillance camera footage (CCTV-Red) and there are no signs of violence on his body," he said.