Bangladesh stalled Rohingya repatriation process: Myanmar

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 00:00, Nov 19, 2019 | Updated : 00:00, Nov 19, 2019

Rohingya refugee children pose for a picture at the Balukhali camp in Cox`s Bazar, Bangladesh, November 15, 2018. REUTERS/File PhotoMyanmar has blamed the Bangladesh for the stalled repatriation process of Rohingya refugees, The Irrawaddy newspaper reported.
“As long as Bangladesh doesn’t cooperate, this problem will continue to exist. There was a problem in 1993. But there was cooperation then and [repatriation] was successful. This problem happens because Bangladesh doesn’t cooperate," said Myanmar government spokesman U Zaw Htay told the media in capital Naypyitaw.
“Bangladesh on the international stage called for action and sanctions against Myanmar. It should not behave like that. The country has acted improperly,” he was quoted by The Irrawaddy on Monday (Nov 18).
More than 730,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since a 2017 crackdown by Myanmar’s military, which UN investigators say was carried out with “genocidal intent”. Buddhist-majority Myanmar denies accusations of genocide.
Last week, West African Muslim-majority nation Gambia lodged a lawsuit against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
However, the accusation of genocide, while within the jurisdiction of the court, will not be investigated by the ICC, a treaty-based body that is not supported by Myanmar.
Rohingya activists in exile and Latin American human rights groups have also submitted a lawsuit with a court in Argentina over alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims, in which State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the presidents of both the current and previous administrations are targeted.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also approved a prosecution request to investigate crimes against humanity regarding Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar.
U Zaw Htay said, “Bangladesh said one thing to us and another to the media. So we have had to conduct tripartite talks between the Chinese foreign minister, Myanmar [State Counselor’s Office minister] U Kyaw Tint Swe and the Bangladeshi foreign minister. Only then we will have witnesses to support our argument.”
U Kyaw Tint Swe held talks with the UN Secretary General and the foreign ministers of China and Bangladesh at the recent UN General Assembly, the spokesperson added,
“At the time, the Bangladeshi foreign minister made promises before the Chinese minister and set a date for repatriation. So we took it for granted and made preparations. But the repatriation did not start,” U Zaw Htay was quoted by The Irrawaddy as saying.
The Myanmar government has failed to handle the Rakhine crisis properly and the situation has not improved, according to the Muslim former political prisoner U Tun Kyi. The government, if it is to accept refugees back, has to ensure their safety, citizenship and fundamental rights, he said.
“The international pressures will only increase if the government neglects those things. Bangladesh is putting pressure on the international community due to the burden of refugees. Our country has suffered a lot as it is faced with problems during the transition,” said U Tun Kyi.
But the government spokesman blamed Bangladesh, according to The Irrawaddy.
“It is necessary that Bangladesh cooperates as a good neighbor. Without its cooperation, this humanitarian crisis will only worsen. If Bangladesh, which has accepted refugees, cannot start the repatriation process, it will be responsible,” said U Zaw Htay.
“Prosecuting Myanmar will not solve the problem,” he was quoted by The Irrawaddy as saying.
Although Bangladesh said that Rohingya refugees were unwilling to return to Myanmar, 415 refugees have returned voluntarily since April, the spokesman added. Only 11 were Hindus and the rest were Rohingya Muslims, he said.
They have not returned to their original villages and are currently living with relatives, according The Irrawaddy.

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