Malaysia launches first phase of Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar

LUMUT, Malaysia — Malaysia initiated the first phase on Tuesday of repatriating approximately 1,500 Myanmar nationals, as part of a larger return program of 5,000 individuals. The attendees were transported to the Majlis Perbandaran Manjung stadium near the Lumut naval base in northwestern Malaysia, where they were met by buses escorted by police.

Journalists were barred from entering the stadium. It is unclear how many of the group are Rohingya, an ethnic minority facing persecution in Myanmar, though they constitute two-thirds of the 190,000 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, according to the United Nations. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the repatriation plan in July following the detention of over 100 Rohingya outside the UN refugee agency's office in Kuala Lumpur, who were seeking aid after being threatened with eviction from an unauthorized settlement in Penang.

The Rohingya were later released after their UN documentation was verified. Myanmar has pledged to conduct "safe and dignified" returns for its citizens abroad, addressing concerns from the United Nations and human rights organizations. Anwar has also invited Myanmar's former military leader and current president, Min Aung Hlaing, for a visit to facilitate the repatriation process.

Malaysia, which hosts one of Southeast Asia's largest refugee populations, is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not officially recognize refugee status. Human rights advocates have uncovered online disinformation campaigns against Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, exacerbating xenophobia and intimidation. Many Rohingya fled Myanmar during a severe military crackdown in 2017.