Rohingya repatriation set for next week

BANGKOK: A top Myanmar official said yesterday that a camp to house Rohingya Muslim and Hindu refugees who returned from Bangladesh would be ready by its promised deadline next week.

More than 650 000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh after Myanmar’s military launched a brutal crackdown in August following attacks on police posts by a militant group.

Though Myanmar’s army claimed it was a clearance operation against the terrorists, the UN, US and others have said the operations were “ethnic cleansing” to remove the Rohingya from the country.

Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an agreement in November to repatriate Rohingya, and set up a working group last month to oversee the repatriation of people who had fled violence in the northern part of Rakhine state in western Myanmar.

Win Myat Aye, the minister of social welfare, relief and resettlement, said Myanmar was hosting a one-day meeting yesterday with Bangladesh officials in the capital Naypyitaw to discuss the logistics of how many Rohingya would be allowed into Myanmar, and how they would be scrutinised to be placed in the camps.

Officials plan to start the repatriation process from Tuesday next week.

“We are planning ahead to be able accept the returnees from next week, and we are sure that this will be done on time,” Win Myat Aye said.

The UN refugee agency said it was not involved in the process, but was willing to play a “constructive role” in the process if allowed, specifically in registering the refugees and helping determining whether they are returning to Myanmar voluntarily.

“Our involvement in the process and our full access to areas of return in Myanmar can help build confidence for all concerned,” said Vivian Tan, UNHCR’s senior regional communication officer.

State-run media in Myanmar reported yesterday the Hla Po Khaung camp would accommodate about 30 000 people in 625 buildings.