KUALA LUMPUR: Myanmar must end the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya community before any discussions can be held on the repatriation of refugees seeking shelter in other countries.
This was the view of the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (Merhrom) and the European Rohingya Council (ERC), when asked to comment on the repatriation deals signed between the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Merhrom president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani said the community would not agree to be repatriated until the persecution of the community was stopped, and their safety and wellbeing was guaranteed.
He also questioned the sincerity of the Myanmar government in allowing the repatriation, saying that the move was politically motivated.
This was, he said, especially since there was no effort to stop the violence against the community in Myanmar.
“Yesterday, three Rohingya were killed. In my village, Buthidaung, we have houses being burnt down almost every day. People are caught by the authorities, who force them to admit to offences they did not commit.
“My people are living in despair and they cannot leave their homes without fearing for their safety.”
Zafar said the Myanmar government should give assurances that the Rohingya would not be harmed when they returned to their home country.
“The Myanmar and Bangladesh governments signed several memoranda of understanding together since 1978, yet these agreements failed to stop the ongoing issues in Rakhine State.”
Zafar said the government should also resolve the issue of the placement of the thousands of Rohingya refugees when they returned to their homeland.
“Even if these Rohingya are to be (repatriated), they will still have nowhere to live. To date, 160,000 of them were (repatriated) when a similar agreement was made in 2012, and they are now living in camps... it has been more than five years now.”
Zafar said the United Nations, world leaders and the international community should play their roles as mediators to ensure the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments upheld their roles in the agreement.
“We are refugees, so it should be the UN which discusses our repatriation... it (should) not be under the jurisdiction of (the Myanmar and Bangladesh) governments.
“This is not the first time they have signed an agreement to allow for the repatriation of Rohingya and failed us... we now have no trust in either government,” he added.
ERC ambassador to Malaysia Tengku Emma Zuriana said the repatriation of the community should be done on a voluntary basis, adding that the community should not be placed in camps.
She said she was concerned that Rohingya in displacement camps and settlement zones would be abused.
“We laud the efforts by Bangladesh and Myanmar to discuss the safe return of Rohingya to their homes... however, this must be a voluntary process, in safety and dignity, for them to return to their homes and not (be placed in) camps.
“If there is any loss of property or life, it must be compensated fairly.
“The displacement camps and settlement zones in northern Rakhine State, prepared by the Myanmar government, will only allow the cycle of abuse to continue.
“This has happened so many times,” she said, adding that until the Myanmar government was serious about improving the situation, the Bangladesh government should put off the repatriation plan.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said Malaysia welcomed the positive developments arising from the ongoing dialogue between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
“We are encouraged by the signing of the arrangement between the two countries.
“The ministry hopes that both sides will cooperate closely in implementing the arrangement.
“This is to ensure the expeditious, safe and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar,” he said.
Reezal said Malaysia remained committed to alleviating the plight of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
This, he added, could be demonstrated through the government’s contribution of humanitarian aid, as well as the establishment of the field hospital in Cox’s Bazar.
“As underlined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Malaysia reiterates our support and readiness to assist Myanmar in handling this complex situation. Our government also continues to work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in assisting Rohingya refugees here on humanitarian grounds.”
Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an accord on Thursday on terms for the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh.
The repatriation process is expected to begin within two months.