Rohingya refugees turn down Myanmar repatriation

No Rohingya Muslims staying in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh turned up for a planned repatriation to Myanmar on Thursday because they want to be guaranteed safety and citizenship first, officials said.

Bangladesh refugee commissioner Abul Kalam said none of the 295 families interviewed by the Bangladesh government and the U.N.’s refugee agency had agreed to return. “Not a single Rohingya wants to go back without their demands being met,” he told reporters.

Rohingya Muslims have long demanded that Myanmar should give them citizenship, safety and their own land and homes they left behind. Myanmar earlier said the repatriation would start on Thursday. The Buddhist-majority country has certified more than 3,000 refugees for repatriation.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government will not force the refugees to return and the repatriation will only happen if they are willing.

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled across the border to Bangladesh after Myanmar’s military began a harsh counterinsurgency campaign against Rohingya in August 2017 in response to an insurgent attack. The army-led campaign involved mass rapes, killings and the burning of homes.

Myanmar has refused to recognize Rohingya as citizens or even as one of its ethnic groups, rendering them stateless, and they also face other forms of statesanctioned discrimination.

The UNHCR said in a statement Thursday that many Rohingya interviewed actually want to go home if the conditions are met. “Many stated that they hope to go home as soon as assurances regarding their citizenship status, freedom of movement, and security in Myanmar could be provided,” it said.