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Myanmar blames Rohingya repatriation failure on Bangladesh
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...a-repatriation-failure-on-bangladesh-11837570
Bangladesh is eager for the Rohingya's return, with its resources severely strained by nearly a million refugees living in camps (Photo: AFP/Munir UZ ZAMAN)
23 Aug 2019 09:42PM
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YANGON: Myanmar on Friday (Aug 23) pushed blame for its second failed attempt to repatriate the Rohingya on Bangladesh, a day after not a single refugee turned up to return to conflict-scarred Rakhine state.
The Myanmar military waged a brutal crackdown on the stateless Muslim minority in western Rakhine state, leading to an exodus of more than 740,000 Rohingya to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued the blame game Friday.
"Smooth repatriation for the displaced persons would require the adherence to the bilateral agreement," the state-run New Light of Myanmar said.
Rohingya refugees gather at a market inside a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. (Photo: Reuters/Mohammad Ponir Hossain)
READ: Timeline - Two years on, a look at the Rohingya crisis
READ: Myanmar troops' sexual violence against Rohingya shows 'genocidal intent' - UN report
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state. (Photo: AFP/Munir Uz Zaman)
The ministry put the onus on Bangladesh for failing to distribute the correct paperwork, so-called "verification forms" to potential returnees - a controversial form of ID that falls short of granting Rohingya citizenship.
"This procedure was not adhered to," it said, adding Bangladesh had also "ignored" a request to expedite the return of more than 400 Hindu refugees.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state. (Photo: AFP/Munir Uz Zaman)
The ministry confirmed China and Japan had facilitated repatriation, and it had been the Chinese government that informed them earlier this month of Bangladesh's intent to re-start the process.
Dhaka is eager for the Rohingya's return, with its resources severely strained by nearly a million refugees living in camps.
Thursday's no-show by the refugees was "very disappointing" for Bangladesh, said foreign minister A K Abdul Momen.
He added the Rohingya were taking the country "hostage" by insisting on their demands for citizenship.
But rights groups warn that conditions are not right for repatriation, and UN investigators say the 2017 violence warrants the prosecution of top generals for "genocide".
READ: Myanmar troops' sexual violence against Rohingya shows 'genocidal intent' - UN report
Any Rohingya returning to Myanmar "will be going back into a situation of persecution", Christopher Sidoti, a UN fact-finding team member, told AFP this week.
The Myanmar military is also currently locked in fierce fighting with the Arakan Army, a group claiming to fight for autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine people.
Source: AFP/nr
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...a-repatriation-failure-on-bangladesh-11837570
Bangladesh is eager for the Rohingya's return, with its resources severely strained by nearly a million refugees living in camps (Photo: AFP/Munir UZ ZAMAN)
23 Aug 2019 09:42PM
Share this content
Bookmark
YANGON: Myanmar on Friday (Aug 23) pushed blame for its second failed attempt to repatriate the Rohingya on Bangladesh, a day after not a single refugee turned up to return to conflict-scarred Rakhine state.
The Myanmar military waged a brutal crackdown on the stateless Muslim minority in western Rakhine state, leading to an exodus of more than 740,000 Rohingya to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued the blame game Friday.
"Smooth repatriation for the displaced persons would require the adherence to the bilateral agreement," the state-run New Light of Myanmar said.
Rohingya refugees gather at a market inside a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. (Photo: Reuters/Mohammad Ponir Hossain)
READ: Timeline - Two years on, a look at the Rohingya crisis
READ: Myanmar troops' sexual violence against Rohingya shows 'genocidal intent' - UN report
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state. (Photo: AFP/Munir Uz Zaman)
The ministry put the onus on Bangladesh for failing to distribute the correct paperwork, so-called "verification forms" to potential returnees - a controversial form of ID that falls short of granting Rohingya citizenship.
"This procedure was not adhered to," it said, adding Bangladesh had also "ignored" a request to expedite the return of more than 400 Hindu refugees.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state. (Photo: AFP/Munir Uz Zaman)
The ministry confirmed China and Japan had facilitated repatriation, and it had been the Chinese government that informed them earlier this month of Bangladesh's intent to re-start the process.
Dhaka is eager for the Rohingya's return, with its resources severely strained by nearly a million refugees living in camps.
Thursday's no-show by the refugees was "very disappointing" for Bangladesh, said foreign minister A K Abdul Momen.
He added the Rohingya were taking the country "hostage" by insisting on their demands for citizenship.
But rights groups warn that conditions are not right for repatriation, and UN investigators say the 2017 violence warrants the prosecution of top generals for "genocide".
READ: Myanmar troops' sexual violence against Rohingya shows 'genocidal intent' - UN report
Any Rohingya returning to Myanmar "will be going back into a situation of persecution", Christopher Sidoti, a UN fact-finding team member, told AFP this week.
The Myanmar military is also currently locked in fierce fighting with the Arakan Army, a group claiming to fight for autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine people.
Source: AFP/nr
