Myanmar vows ‘safe’ returns ahead of Malaysia repatriations

Naypyidaw, Myanmar - The Myanmar government has pledged on Thursday to ensure safe and dignified returns for its citizens who have been displaced abroad, following concerns raised by the UN and rights groups about the upcoming repatriation of 1,500 Rohingya nationals from Malaysia.

Both Myanmar and Malaysia have agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya members, who have endured a campaign of violent discrimination in Myanmar since 2017. The first wave of nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals is set to be repatriated voluntarily in late September, although the exact number of Rohingya included remains uncertain.

Myanmar is committed to collaborating with Bangladesh and other friendly nations to facilitate the voluntary return of verified displaced persons in a safe and dignified manner, according to the foreign ministry's statement. However, rights monitors express concern that returning the Rohingya to a country where their identities are erased could lead to further abuse.

Over a million Rohingya have fled Myanmar after a brutal military crackdown beginning in 2017, forming the basis of a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. Currently, more than 1.2 million Rohingya live just over the border in Bangladesh, in the world's largest refugee settlement. Another 126,000 Rohingya reside in Malaysia, alongside displaced citizens from various ethnic groups.

Myanmar's foreign ministry reiterated its assertion that the term "Rohingya" falsely claims an ethnic identity that never existed in Myanmar and condemned recent commemorations for Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day. Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that the country will not repatriate Myanmar nationals if they would face persecution or have their lives threatened.

A recent UN report, released on Wednesday, found that conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya do not currently exist. Many migrants in Malaysia are also held in detention centers, raising questions about the freely made decisions of those contemplating return.