Myanmar vows ‘safe’ returns ahead of Malaysia repatriations
The assurance was made after the UN and rights groups raised concerns about the upcoming repatriation of 1,500 Rohingya people from Malaysia.
Myanmar has declared Thursday that it intends to conduct safe and dignified returns for its citizens who have been displaced abroad, following concerns raised by the UN and rights groups over the repatriation of 1,500 individuals from Malaysia. The country's foreign ministry reaffirmed its rejection of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, who fear the return scheme may expose them to additional danger.
In July, Malaysia announced that Myanmar would accept back 5,000 Rohingya, a group that has endured violent discrimination in the country since 2017. Both nations claim a first wave of nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals will be repatriated voluntarily in late September, although the exact number of Rohingya included remains uncertain.
Myanmar is dedicated to collaborating with Bangladesh and friendly nations to facilitate the voluntary return of verified displaced persons in a safe and dignified manner. Despite hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown beginning in 2017 – a situation that constitutes a genocide case at the International Court of Justice – only a fraction of the 1.2 million Rohingya who reside just over the border in Bangladesh have returned.
Additionally, around 126,000 Rohingya are present in Malaysia, alongside displaced Myanmar citizens from various ethnic groups. The foreign ministry reiterated its stance that the term "Rohingya" is incorrect, as it falsely implies an ethnic identity that never existed in Myanmar, and criticized recent commemorations for Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.
Malaysia's communications minister, Fahmi Fadzil, has stated that his country will not repatriate Myanmar nationals if they face persecution or threats to their lives. However, rights monitors are apprehensive that returning Rohingya to a nation where their identities are disregarded could facilitate new instances of abuse. A report by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, released on Wednesday, indicated that conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya are currently lacking.
Many migrants in Malaysia are also detained in centers, raising questions about the authenticity of their decisions to return.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
