User blog comment:Zabuza825/Interview a Kolhari Refugee!/@comment-27026565-20150322012304/@comment-1490093-20150322044830

Q: How would you describe the conditions of life in the cities? The rural communities?

Cities are generally well-kept and well-maintained, living conditions in the cities are usually pretty decent. Everyone, first and second-class citizens alike, have access to water and electricity and food. Life in the cities is decent, but that doesn't mean that it's good. Systematic discrimination of second-class citizens and denial of civil and political rights is the source of widespread unrest in most cities.

Rural communities don't fare as well, but they fare far better than some would think. Usually rural communities are relegated to agricultural work, and you'll rarely find anything other than farms in the rural areas.

That said, living conditions are still nothing compared to the rest of the world. Having entered Malaysia, I first heard of the internet. Supposedly it's worldwide, but in Kolhar I know of no internet companies. Having left Kolhar, I realized that in terms of technology we are still stuck in what you would call the 1980's.

Q: How are special groups such as women, ethnic minorities, and the elderly treated?

Women are generally treated no different than men, but if you've studies Kolhari history it shouldn't be too surprising to you. For thousands of years women have been regarded as just as important as men. There are a few areas where generally men are treated better than women, but overall there is little distinction between the two genders.

That said, transgender people are a different story. If you come out as transgender, you're treated as if you have a mental disorder, and sent to an insane asylum.

Ethnic minorities, well these are a tough area. Kolhar has no laws recognizing ethnic minorities. That doesn't mean that they aren't discriminated against, this just means that they are subject to the exact same laws that other Kolhari people are. However, I've heard that most of these people don't declare themselves to belong to any particular sect, and that would mean that they are automatically grouped into the category of second-class citizens and treated as such.

The only minority group to be significantly discriminated against would be the Muslims. Since the fall of the Cold War anti-Muslim propaganda has been growing, and some of us dissidents are concerned that Islamophobia may become part of the Kolhari Advancement Party's ideology.

The elderly can be treated good or bad. It depends entirely on how they lived their life. If they didn't cause the government much trouble, or were loyal fascists, they are treated by the government with respect. If they were a dissident however, then they are treated by the government as an unwanted burden.

Q: Do you believe the international community should have a role in changing the situation in Kolhar?

A: Yes. It doesn't have to be military intervention, something as small as economic sanctions on the nation will help. There needs to be some action from the international community to tell the Kolhari people that they are not alone in their struggle against their oppressive government.