No Rohingya turn up for repatriation to Myanmar

Frontier
MYANMAR
August 22, 2019
By AFP

 A driver rests on a bus that was to be used to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, in the Shalbagan camp in Teknaf on August 22. (AFP) 

TEKNAF — A fresh push to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar fall flat on Thursday, with no one turning up to hop on five buses and 10 trucks laid on by Bangladesh.

Members of the Muslim minority, 740,000 of whom fled a military offensive in 2017, are refusing to return without guarantees for their safety and a promise that they will at last be given citizenship by Myanmar.

Rohingya repatriation can begin anytime: foreign secretary

The Daily Star
August 19, 2019
Staff Correspondent

Repatriation of Rohingya refugees -- who fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar in August 2017 -- can begin anytime, foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said yesterday at a discussion.

“Repatriation is always on the table. It can start anytime. It is a continual process,” Shahidul Haque said while responding to a journalist’s query on whether the repatriation of Rohingyas will start on August 22 as reported by an international news agency.

Reuters on Thursday reported that Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to start a fresh attempt to repatriate Rohingyas on August 22.

Myanmar to attempt repatriation process again on August 22

MYANMAR TIMES

Khin Myat Myat Wai  

19 Aug 2019

A view of a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Another repatriation effort is expected to take place on Thursday. Photo - EPA 

Myanmar will accept more than 3000 Rakhine State refugees from Bangladesh starting on Thursday, said U Ko Ko Naing, director general of the Disaster Management Department.

“There are more than 20,000 refugees on the list sent by Bangladesh. Of them, we have verified that more than 3000 have documents proving that they lived in Myanmar. We sent the list to Bangladesh but they have not replied,” he said. 

Asean needs a viable Rakhine agenda

Bangkok Post
Opinion
published : 19 Aug 2019
writer: Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, 

Laetitia van den Assum, Kobsak Chutikul & Dinna Wisnu

 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, second right, speaks to delegates at Asean's Foreign Ministers meeting on July 31. WICHAN CHAROENKIATPAKUL 

When Asean's Foreign Ministers met in Bangkok on July 31, they "reaffirmed their support for a more visible and enhanced role of Asean to support Myanmar in providing humanitarian assistance, facilitating the repatriation process [of the Rohingya] and promoting sustainable development".

We welcome Asean's continued engagement. At the same time, we find it important that the overall situation in Rakhine is properly understood and that credible assessment is made of the conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified Rohingya returns. Asean pronouncements indicate agreement that the root causes of the conflict have to be addressed.

Rohingya group sounds alarm on ‘premature’ repatriation

AA

Md. Kamruzzaman

19.08.2019 

 

There is still genocidal persecution of Rohingya inside Myanmar, says European Rohingya Council days ahead of repatriation 

A Dutch-based Rohingya advocacy group on Monday expressed deep concern over the “premature repatriation” from Bangladesh to Myanmar of over 3,500 Rohingya refugees set to start this Thursday.

“Myanmar has so far failed to present to Rohingya community a clear, transparent, strategic and genuine plan of repatriation of nearly one million Rohingya [who] survived from Myanmar’s genocide,” the European Rohingya Council (ERC) said in a statement.

No turning point yet

The Daily Star   
Opinion
Mohammad Zaman
August 18, 2019

Rohingya refugee children carry supplies through Balukhali refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar, October 23, 2017. Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters

In recent weeks, there have been a flurry of diplomatic activities in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, starting with the high-level visit of Myanmar delegation led by Myint Thu, Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Cox’s Bazar. The repatriation of the Rohingyas was a major topic at the 2019 meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) held recently in Bangkok. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also visited Bangladesh and Rakhine state. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in Japan and later in China to press hard the Rohingya repatriation case, where she was assured that Beijing would “do whatever is required” to help resolve the Rohingyas crisis.

Myanmar Announces Plan to Repatriate 3,450 of the 700,000 Rohingya Who Fled to Bangladesh

TIME 

By JERRY HARMER and JULHAS ALAM / AP

August 16, 2019

Myanmar's government spokesman Zaw Htay talks to journalists during a press briefing at the Presidential Palace in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. Myanmar and Bangladesh are making a second attempt to start repatriating Rohingya Muslims after more than 700,000 of them fled a security crackdown in Myanmar almost two years ago, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday.
Aung Shine Oo—AP

(BANGKOK) — Myanmar and Bangladesh will soon make a second attempt to start repatriating Rohingya Muslims, 700,000 of whom fled a security crackdown in Myanmar almost two years ago, officials from the two countries and the United Nations said Friday.

Rohingya suspicious as Myanmar touts repatriation plan

Al Jazeera

by Joshua Carroll
 30th July 2019

Refugees in Cox's Bazar question Myanmar motives amid Rakhine unrest, but some see 'breakthrough' in repatriation talks.

More than 700,00 Rohingya were forced to flee northern Rakhine in Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown in 2017 [File: Anadolu/Masfiqur Sohan]

Yangon, Myanmar - When a team of top Myanmar officials met Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar over the weekend, they handed out flyers aimed at persuading members of the persecuted minority to return home two years after fleeing a brutal military crackdown in 2017.

With its happy cartoon figures and its promise of a return "to normal life," the brochure paints a rosy picture for refugees who agree to be repatriated to Buddhist-majority Myanmar on the government's terms.

Rohingya tell Myanmar they won't return without recognition as ethnic group with right to citizenship Reuters

thejapantimes
Reuters
Jul 29, 2019 

Myanmar's permanent foreign secretary, U Myint Thu, speaks during a meeting with representatives of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Sunday. Thu led a 10-member delegation for the weekend talks in refugee camps to discuss creating conditions for the safe repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. | AP 

DHAKA - Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh refuse to return to Myanmar unless they are recognised as an ethnic group in their home country, leaders told visiting Myanmar officials on Sunday as fresh repatriation talks started.

Bangladesh hands list of 25,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar for verification

bdnews24.com
29 Jul 2019

Bangladesh has handed over a fresh list of 25,000 Rohingyas to Myanmar for verification as the repatriation process lingers.

With the new list, Bangladesh has so far handed over names of around 55,000 Rohingyas to the Myanmar authorities following singing the deal two years back soon after the massive exodus in August 2017.

Myanmar Delegation Holds Repatriation Talks With Rohingya in Bangladesh

VOA
By Agence France-Presse

July 27, 2019 

Members of the Myanmar delegation team arrive at the airport in Cox's Bazar, southern Bangladesh, July 27, 2019, ahead of meetings with Rohingya leaders to inform them of measures they have taken for their return to Rakhine state

KUTUPALONG, BANGLADESH — A top-level Myanmar government delegation began repatriation talks with Rohingya leaders in a Bangladesh refugee camp on Saturday, an official said, with many of the Muslim minority fearing for their safety if they return home.

Rohingya call for recognition as Myanmar holds fresh repatriation talks

The Guardian

Agence France-Presse

Sun 28 Jul 2019 

Virtually no Rohingya have volunteered to go back to Myanmar, where the group has faced decades of repression

Some 740,000 Rohingya fled a 2017 crackdown by Myanmar’s military and are living in squalid conditions in camps in Bangladesh. Photograph: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images 

  A top-level Myanmar government delegation began repatriation talks with Rohingya leaders in a Bangladesh refugee camp on Saturday, an official said, with many of the Muslim minority fearing for their safety if they return home.

Myanmar’s real intent now transparent

The Daily Star

July 27, 2019
Editorial 

The foreign minister is absolutely right when he says the repatriation of Rohingyas depends entirely on Myanmar. Mere expression of willingness by Myanmar to take back the refugees is not enough. Demonstrative actions must follow quickly on the part of Myanmar. Regrettably, with every passing day the prospect of the Rohingyas going back to their own country is becoming bleaker. With the expulsion of the majority of the Rohingyas two years ago, Myanmar has put its final touches to their plans to divest the entire eastern Rakhine of the minority Rohingyas. The destruction of Rohingya villages and the Myanmar army setting up bases in this area only show that Myanmar is not prepared for the repatriation which Bangladesh hopes would start before September.

Rohingya repatriation likely in September - official

Bernama.com

25/07/2019

SOURCE: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/official-rohingya-repatriation-likely-in-september/1540657

DHAKA, July 25 (Bernama) -- The longstanding impasse in repatriating Rohingya Muslims to their homeland in Myanmar may give way in September, Anadolu Agency reported, quoting a senior Bangladeshi official Wednesday.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday announced a possible schedule for the repatriation of Rohingya in Dhaka.

Myanmar must take back Rohingyas: PM

The Daily Star
July 15, 2019
BSS, Dhaka

French Ambassador Marie-Annick Bourdin pays a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka on Monday, July 15, 2019. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her call to Myanmar to begin the repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas, saying that they (Myanmar) must take back their nationals from Bangladesh.

“The repatriation process should be started. How long will we bear the burden? … The sooner the Rohingyas are repatriated, the better it will be for all,” she said.

Sweden to pressurise Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation

NEWAGE
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
Dhaka | Published: Jul 04,2019

Sweden will continue its pressure on Myanmar to take back its nationals who have taken shelter in Bangladesh after being evicted from Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Swedish ambassador to Bangladesh Charlotta Schlyter said this during a courtesy call on road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader at his secretariat office in Dhaka on Wednesday. The Swedish ambassador also assured that Swedish government would continue its cooperation for repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh.

Charlotta Schlyter invited Obaidul Quader to join the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to be held in Stockholm in February next.

The Swedish ambassador expressed interest to supply Swedish bus to increase the capacity of mass transit facility in the capital Dhaka. 

Link :http://www.newagebd.net/article/77411/sweden-to-pressurise-myanmar-for-rohingya-repatriation

 

Engaging honorary consuls in Rohingya repatriation

NEWAGE

M Serajul Islam
Article 
Published:  Jun 29,2019

A file photo shows Rohingya refugees queue for aid in Cox’s Bazar in September 2017. — New Age/Reuters  

A RECENT appeal of the foreign minister to honorary consuls at home and abroad ‘to engage their respective governments and civil societies to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees’ surprised many. The minister exposed his lack of knowledge about honorary consuls in making the appeal. The honorary consuls are not diplomats. They pursue their normal professions and provide services for the embassies of the countries that appoint them as facilitators on a voluntary basis. Their role is limited mainly to providing protocol assistance to the embassies and promote the interest of their countries in matters of trade, commerce, consular affairs, tourism, et cetera.

Rohingyas may be threat for security if not repatriated soon: PM

The Daily Star

June 26, 2019

 File photo of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told parliament that the security and stability of Bangladesh may be hampered if the displaced Rohingyas cannot be repatriated soon.
In reply to a question from Awami League MP Nur Mohammad from Kishoreganj-2, the premier said, “If we can’t send the displaced Rohingyas back soon, there is an apprehension that our security and stability will be hampered.”

Rohingya Repatriation: Beijing’s support sought to convince Myanmar

The Daily Star

June 25, 2019

More than 740,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh, and virtually none have volunteered yet to go back to Myanmar. Photo: AFP/FILE

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today sought China's support to convince Myanmar to start taking back their nationals from Bangladesh at the earliest.

The Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh is ready to send back Rohingyas who are in the verified list.

ASEAN to Support Myanmar in Rohingya Repatriation Process

The Irrawaddy
By Nan Lwin
24 June 2019

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi greets Thai officials after a bilateral meeting with the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on June 22, 2019. / ASEAN 2019 website  

YANGON—Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reaffirmed their commitment to “a more visible and enhanced role” in supporting Myanmar in providing humanitarian assistance, facilitating the Rohingya repatriation process and promoting sustainable development in Rakhine State.

The ASEAN chairman’s statement issued on Sunday said ASEAN leaders stressed their continued support for “Myanmar’s commitment to ensure safety and security for all communities in Rakhine State as effectively as possible and facilitate the voluntary return of displaced persons in a safe, secure and dignified manner.”