Free Rohingya Coalition decries pushing refugees back out to sea

The Daily Star

Star Online Report
April 29, 2020

A boat carrying suspected ethnic Rohingya migrants is seen detained in Malaysian territorial waters, in Langkawi, Malaysia on April 5, 2020. File Photo: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/Handout via Reuters

Pushing hundreds of starving and persecuted Rohingya refugees back out to the sea in the full knowledge that they have no safe place of refuge elsewhere are fundamental violations of their human rights, said Free Rohingya Coalition, a global network of Rohingya survivors and activists, today.

It said it is deeply troubled by the news reports that a number of Asian countries, specifically Malaysia, Thailand and Bangladesh, are pushing starving Rohingya refugees on boats back out to dangerous waters after refusing disembarkation on their shores.

Rohingyas in Malaysia Face a Pandemic and a Possible Populist Backlash

THE I DIPLOMAT 
By Erin Cook
April 28, 2020

Rohingya refugees in Malaysia face a double-pronged disaster: a pandemic and a populist turn against the vulnerable community.

This article is free: The Diplomat has removed paywall restrictions on our coverage of the COVID–19 crisis.

 In Malaysia, the Rohingya refugee community is dealing with a double-pronged disaster. As is true for everyone, the pandemic has fundamentally upset daily life and fears of both infection and the loss of income permeate. And now the community must also contend with a sudden turn in support from wider society.

Initially, this turn was linked to would-be boat arrivals of refugees entering Malaysian waters in recent months, but it has escalated dramatically online after potentially faked comments from a self-styled community leader created a deep division.

The Rohingya could be facing another catastrophe

TRT WORLD 

CJ Werleman
2020.04.29

 

Rohingya Muslims have been discarded by the international community and are at high risk for contracting Covid-19 in crowded living spaces.

The fate of more than one million Rohingya genocide survivors has never looked so grim in the three years since they fled their villages for the safety of the Bangladeshi border.

When summarising the plight of the Rohingya, "survivor" becomes the operative word, given their ongoing physical and psychological injuries, with most having witnessed their homes destroyed, mass killings, and their wives, mothers, and daughters raped, many whom were later burnt alive or hacked to death.

Bukit Aman CID chief: Police investigating provocative Facebook live videos by Rohingya men

malaymail  

Wednesday, 29 Apr 2020
BY RADZI RAZAK

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed in a statement today said police have received 19 police reports related to the two Facebook Live video that was posted using an account named Villan Vicky. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Police have initiated an investigation into two Facebook live videos which showed several Rohingya men uttering offensive words towards the Malays in the country, and another footage of the group engaged in firearms training purportedly to be used against those who threaten their safety.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed in a statement today said police have received 19 police reports related to the two Facebook Live video that was posted using an account named Villan Vicky.

Dr Wan Azizah: US$50m Qatari donation for Rohingya went through NGOs, not Pakatan government

malaymail 

Wednesday, 29 Apr 2020 BY EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN

Formey deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the Qatari donation was made out by the Qatar Charity (QC) to the NGOs involved and not through the government. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today responded to the Umno president who questioned how US$50 million (RM218million) in donations for the Rohingya community here was used.

In response to a Facebook post by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday, Dr Wan Azizah pointed out that the Qatari donation was made out by the Qatar Charity (QC) to the NGOs involved and not through the government.

Dr M: Stop trading with Myanmar over Rohingya abuse

malaymail

Wednesday, 29 Apr 2020
BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today called for a rejection of trade with Myanmar over its cruelty towards its Rohingya community. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Malaysia has already accepted too many Rohingya refugees and other nations must do their part to address the crisis, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

On his blog, Dr Mahathir also called for a rejection of trade with Myanmar over its cruelty towards its Rohingya community.

Don’t fear speaking up for Rohingya, says Anwar

FMT
FMT Reporters
April 27, 2020

PETALING JAYA: Rohingya refugees who arrive in Malaysia could be accommodated at special and controlled areas, while Malaysia draws up plans to send them to another country, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim suggested today.

Speaking in a video broadcast over Facebook, Anwar urged political leaders and elders to speak up about the Rohingya problem and not fear a backlash.

Senior minister urges public to remain calm and let cops investigate allegations against Rohingya community

malaymail 

Monday, 27 Apr 2020

BY BEN TAN

General view of a Rohingya settlement in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur April 24, 2020. — Picture Hari Anggara

 KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today called on Malaysians to let cool heads prevail and not to resort to unnecessary provocations in light of an apparent social media campaign against the Rohingya community.

He assured the public that the police are investigating the issue that has of late created a feeling of hatred against the Rohingya community during the movement control order (MCO).
“There are some who think that part of the videos and audios may be fake, but no one can validate their authenticity except the police.

Solving Solving Rohingya crisis takes a global effort, burden shouldn’t fall on Malaysia’s shoulders alone, says HadiRohingya crisis takes a global effort, burden shouldn’t fall on Malaysia’s shoulders alone, says Hadi

malaymail  

BY DANIAL DZULKIFLY

Monday, 27 Apr 2020 

General view of a Rohingya settlement in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur April 24, 2020. — Picture Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — The humanitarian crisis that has plagued the Rohingya people needs to be dealt with via an international effort rather than Malaysia solely bearing the burden, said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

In an exhaustive Facebook posting today, Hadi explained that while Malaysia has done its fair share by aiding refugees, it cannot continue an open-door policy as it could be seen as facilitating the “oppressive” acts of the Myanmar government towards the Rohingya people.

Bangladesh urged to open ports to allow in Rohingya refugee boats

The Guardian
Rebecca Ratcliffe
South-east Asia correspondent
Mon 27 Apr 2020

More than 500 stranded on trawlers in what UN calls ‘human tragedy of terrible proportions’

A boat carrying suspected Rohingya refugees off the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. Earlier this month, Bangladesh rescued a boat that had been left adrift for two months after attempting to reach Malaysia. Photograph: Maritime Enforcement Agency Handout/EPA

The Bangladeshi government has been urged to open its ports and allow two boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees to come ashore so they can be given urgent medical care, food and water.

UN requests Bangladesh to let in 2 boats carrying 500 Rohingyas

Dhaka Tribune
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan
April 25th, 2020

File photo: Rohingya refugees who were rescued by Bangladesh Coast Guard in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Dhaka Tribune

No more Rohingyas will be allowed in, the foreign minister said on Wednesday

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has requested the Bangladesh government to allow two boats carrying around 500 Rohingyas in the Bay of Bengal to anchor in port.

These two boats have been trying to reach the shores of Bangladesh from the international waters since Monday. Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard are not allowing them into the country.

Rohingya Society of Malaysia apologises for certain individuals’ demands

theSundaily
26 APR 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: The Rohingya Society of Malaysia (RSM) today apologised to the Malaysian government and its people on behalf of the refugee community for certain demands allegedly issued by its members recently.

“We apologise to the Malaysian government and its people,” said RSM deputy president Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman, adding that the Rohingya community in the country fully acknowledged their status as refugees.

Please don't hate us, Rohingya plead with Malaysians

THE Star
Sunday, 26 Apr 2020
 RASHVINJEET S. BEDI

IN the six years he has lived in Malaysia, never has Rohingya refugee Rahman felt as unsafe as he does now.

The 27-year-old activist has even deactivated his social media accounts because of the hate and threats that have been spewed out against the Rohingya.

"We can never be ungrateful to Malaysia. I can only thank Malaysia for allowing us to stay here. Please don't hate us," says Rahman, who does not want to use his full name for fear of his safety. His real name and picture have been circulated on social media with hate messages.

Coronavirus offers an excuse to close borders. That would be a mistake

The Guardian
Daniel Trilling
Sun 26 Apr 2020


Clampdowns on refugees and the rhetoric of ‘We look after our own’ are no substitute for protection from the pandemic

• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Refugees at a makeshift camp bordering the Moria camp in Lesbos, Greece, April 2020. Photograph: Manolis Lagoutaris/AFP via Getty Images 

 

For almost six years now, a network of volunteers in Europe and Africa have been providing a service that some of the world’s wealthiest countries have chosen not to. When migrants get into distress in the Mediterranean, they can call Alarm Phone’s emergency number; the call is relayed by a team of people spread across France, Tunisia, Italy, Germany, the UK, Morocco and elsewhere to the coastguard service nearest the boat.

Rohingya refugees rejected everywhere as countries grapple with COVID-19 concerns

TheJakataPost

Dian Septiari
The Jakarta Post

Rohingya refugees get in a truck following their arrival by boat in Teknaf, Bangladesh, on April 16. (AFP/Suzauddin Rubel ) 

As countries scramble to contain the spread of COVID-19 in their territories while prioritizing the well-being of their citizens, Rohingya refugees are again facing widespread rejection. Hundreds are currently stranded at sea in the Bay of Bengal.

Nearby countries have tightened border controls to slow the COVID-19 outbreak, and refugees have become an issue that no country wants to deal with.

Rohingya refugees stranded at sea show urgent need for regional response

AMNESTY

INTERNATIONAL 

22 April 2020,

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh authorities should rescue and welcome Rohingya refugees currently stranded at sea, Amnesty International said today. Other governments must fulfil their shared responsibility to carry out search and rescue efforts, in line with their international obligations to protect life, and allow safe disembarkation of refugees and asylum seekers at sea.

UNHCR expresses concern over failures to disembark vessels carrying Rohingyas

The Daily Star 
April 23, 2020 
Star Online Report

The UN Refugee Agency has expressed deep concerns over the reported failures of some nations to allow entry to some vessels carrying Rohingya refugees recently.

It did not mention the number of such vessels, but sources say two boats carrying some 500 Rohingyas have been in adrift in the sea for the last couple of weeks as Malaysia and Thailand have refused entry to those.

HRW urges Bangladesh to allow Rohingya stranded on boats to come ashore

bdnews24.com 
News Desk, bdnews24.com
26 Apr 2020

File Photo: A boat carrying suspected ethnic Rohingya migrants is seen detained in Malaysian territorial waters, in Langkawi, Malaysia April 5, 2020. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/Handout via REUTERS

The Bangladesh government should immediately allow hundreds of Rohingya refugees stranded in two trawlers in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore, Human Rights Watch has said.

The stranded Rohingya need necessary food, water, and health care, the human right group said in a statement on Saturday, citing a UNHCR warning that the Rohingya may have been at sea for weeks without adequate food and water.

Face facts: Genocide of the Rohingya in Myanmar is complete

ARAB NEWS
Dr. Azeem Ibrahim

April 25, 2020 

As recently as two weeks ago, some of the few Rohingya remaining in Myanmar were still trying to make their way across the border to the relative safety of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. This comes 16 months after the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed Rohingya who had previously fled Myanmar would be helped to return to the country of their birth, and over two months since the International Court of Justice ruled that Myanmar must take a number of steps to protect the Rohingya, who it judged as “at risk of genocide.”

Rohingya stranded at sea, Bangladesh says not its responsibility

Aljazeera  

Faisal Mahmud

2020.04.25

Rights groups urge Dhaka to allow some 500 Rohingya stuck in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, the stranded Rohingya might "have been at sea for weeks without adequate food and water" [EPA-EFE/Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency handout]

Dhaka, Bangladesh - The Bangladesh government has refused to allow some 500 Rohingya refugees stranded on board two fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore, drawing criticism from rights groups.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the Rohingya refugees, who are believed to have been at sea for weeks, are "not Bangladesh's responsibility."