Myanmar, Bangladesh to repatriate Rohingya in ‘no man’s land’
MYANMAR - Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to resettle as many as 6,000 Rohingyas who are trapped in “no man’s land” between the two countries.
Bangladesh had argued that Myanmar should take them back as they hadn’t yet crossed the border after fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
“After Tuesday’s meeting, the Myanmar side (accepted) our position, and agreed to take steps to repatriate and resettle these people,” Bangladesh’s Relief and Refugee Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Abul Kalam told CNN.
More than 688,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Rakhine State since August, when armed militants attacked security forces in the region. The Burmese army responded by carrying out so-called clearance operations targeting terrorists.
Those who have fled have told gut-wrenching stories of systematic mass rape, murder and the burning down of entire villages. The UN and the US say they believe the violence constitutes ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies most of the allegations.
Much of the border is secured to control migration and the journey by water is a perilous. Hundreds of Rohingya have died attempting to cross the Naf river to enter Bangladesh. Kalam, the Bangladeshi commissioner, said the people trapped in no man’s land would be moved as part of a United Nations-supported repatriation effort to return the Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar, though no timeline was given.
The UN estimates there are roughly 5,300 people stranded between the two countries. Exact figures aren’t known because the refugees haven’t gone through a verification process.
The United Nations refugee agency said that representatives of the stranded group had indicated they fear returning to Myanmar and said that “people who have fled violence in their country must be guaranteed safety and protection, and must be consulted on their future.”
“Any decision to return must be voluntary, based upon a free and informed choice,” UN spokesman Andrej Mahecic said.
(CNN)