Include Rohingya in talks on repatriation: rights groups

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Include Rohingya in talks on repatriation: rights groups

By KHINE KYAW 
THE NATION 
YANGON

 

File photo: Young Rohingya refugees enjoy ride in a traditional wooden ferris wheel during Eid Al-Fitr festival celebrations at a refugee camp in Ukhia district near Cox's Bazar on June 5, 2019. // AFP PHOTO

 

Asean urged to use its influence on Myanmar to seek accountability for atrocities and ensure their safe return.

 

INTERNATIONAL human rights organisations are calling on Asean to pressure Myanmar into allowing the ethnic group to participate in the process of their safe return. 

 

Asean could persuade Myanmar to take effective steps to improve the situation on the ground first, said Laura Haigh, a researcher on Myanmar affairs at Amnesty International.

 

“Asean has failed to respond to the scale and gravity of the crisis, and this marks a stain on the bloc’s credibility,” Haigh told The Nation yesterday. 

 

She added that Asean should use its influence to push for a full and unfettered humanitarian access to Myanmar’s Rakhine state, hold them accountable for the atrocities and remove restrictions on the Rohingya – particularly on their free movement that has prevented them from accessing education, healthcare and places they rely on for livelihood.

 

“Asean should also make clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities and join international calls for Myanmar to be referred to the International Criminal Court,” she said.

 

Amnesty International has huge concerns about the repatriation process, not least because Rohingya refugees have yet to be consulted and included in the discussions, she said.

 

“As it stands, Rakhine state is not a safe place – there has been virtually no accountability for the atrocities, and the apartheid system, which stripped the Rohingya of their rights, remains in place,” she said. Haigh also noted that their return cannot be safe, voluntary or dignified until the Rohingya are included in discussions about their future.

 

Asean officials should themselves take time to speak to the Rohingya, Matthew Smith, co-founder and chief executive of Fortify Rights, said

“A lot of people are talking about the Rohingya returning to Myanmar, but none of those people are Rohingya themselves. That needs to change,” he said.

 

“The Rohingya deserve a seat at the table, whether the issue is humanitarian aid, accountability and justice, return of refugees or any other issue affecting their lives.”

 

‘Wilful denial of truth’

 

Smith said Asean must provide an accurate assessment of conditions in Rakhine, which he considers an apartheid state where mass atrocities are taking place.

 

“To pretend the environment is conducive for the return of the refugees is a wilful denial of the truth,” he said.

 

Asean should also hold the perpetrators of human-right violations in Rakhine state accountable, he said, adding Myanmar officials only trust Asean on issues related to Rakhine. 

 

If Myanmar is serious about repatriation, it should also amend the 1982 Citizenship Law so that Rohingya people have full access to citizenship, he said.

 

He added that the authorities should close down existing internment camps, lift restrictions on freedom of movement and cooperate with international investigators and prosecutors so those responsible could be made accountable. 

 

“At this point, any talk of repatriation is a farce. Myanmar wants the world to believe it’s done nothing wrong and that it’s welcoming the Rohingya with open arms. The reality is nasty,” he said.

 

“Any returns would have to be voluntary, safe and dignified, and Myanmar is not prepared to offer any of that.” 

 

 Aung Tun Thet, chief coordinator at the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine, told The Nation yesterday that Myanmar had already opened the doors for returnees.

 

“Bangladesh and some international organisations have long accused us of our attitude towards the Rohingya. This is not strange because they always rely on such political attacks,” he said. 

 

“No matter how hard we try to ensure peace and stability in Rakhine state, they will keep on talking like this. So, we don’t mind what they talk about, what we really mind is finding the best possible way to welcome back the returnees.” 

 

According to a recently leaked report jointly conducted by Myanmar and Asean, the nation aims to accept between 500,000 and 740,000 refugees within two years.

 

When asked if this was an ambitious target, Aung Tun Thet said, “This comes from systematic research, and we are all trying to make the whole process smooth. We see no reason to assume it is impossible.

 

“But, it will entirely depend on the returnees themselves. We have created a better environment for them, ensuring some job opportunities once they return. It is now up to them whether or not they will return to lead a better life,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30371264

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-18

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[cooked]

The Rohingyas forfeited any democratic rights they might have had when they supported an armed rebellion against Myanmar authorities in the Rakhine, killing hundreds (not for the first time; they killed 30 000 in 1942) and calling for the extermination of all non-Muslims. This happened on the very EVE of a scheduled conference with Kofi Anan, explaining the results of a year's discussions concerning the Rakhine problem. 

http://www.rakhinecommission.org/the-final-report/

They didn't want coexistence then and they still don't, they want to have refugee status (even those that aren't 'true' "Rohingyas" so they can get to the USA and Europe.

How about AI concentrating on a similar wave of genocide being carried out by the 'Rohingyas' in the Chittagong against native minorities?

[ukrules]

Just kids having fun I see.....

 

Edited June 17, 2019 by ukrules

[PremiumLane]

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

Just kids having fun I see.....

 

suppose if it was a Western white kid holding a toy guy, that would all be OK?

[PremiumLane]

4 hours ago, cooked said:

The Rohingyas forfeited any democratic rights they might have had when they supported an armed rebellion against Myanmar authorities in the Rakhine, killing hundreds (not for the first time; they killed 30 000 in 1942) and calling for the extermination of all non-Muslims. This happened on the very EVE of a scheduled conference with Kofi Anan, explaining the results of a year's discussions concerning the Rakhine problem. 

http://www.rakhinecommission.org/the-final-report/

They didn't want coexistence then and they still don't, they want to have refugee status (even those that aren't 'true' "Rohingyas" so they can get to the USA and Europe.

How about AI concentrating on a similar wave of genocide being carried out by the 'Rohingyas' in the Chittagong against native minorities?

Yes, a complex situation, but that doesn't mean because there are militants you take away the rights of all people and use that to justify the killing of families. That makes you as bad as the militants. 

 

And calling bs on the whole of the Rohingyas don't want coexistence, source for the claim? 

[cooked]

11 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

suppose if it was a Western white kid holding a toy guy, that would all be OK?

I can show you videos of kids waving swords and shouting about killing.

[PremiumLane]

1 minute ago, cooked said:

I can show you videos of kids waving swords and shouting about killing.

So I take it you are trying to justify the systematic oppression of people?

 

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/rohingya-crisis

[cooked]

3 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

Yes, a complex situation, but that doesn't mean because there are militants you take away the rights of all people and use that to justify the killing of families. That makes you as bad as the militants. 

 

And calling bs on the whole of the Rohingyas don't want coexistence, source for the claim? 

They forfeited their rights. They don't want coexistence, they have showed this consistently since 1942, when the at the same time pushed 50 000 non-Muslims south, never to return. these things don't get reported.

Many of these people that call themselves Rohingyas want refugee status so that they can go to the USA or Europe, where they won't integrate either, except in germany of course, where it is going REALLY well.

It's as a part of their religion, not to integrate, although they are quite good at being victims initially..  

Many Rohingya villages remained intact... these were the ones that didn't help ARSA attack neighbouring non-Muslim villages. Many, many interviews with simple villagers that just did what they were told.

[Orton Rd]

26 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

 

 

And calling bs on the whole of the Rohingyas don't want coexistence, source for the claim? 

The Quran is the source for that claim, - do not befriend unbelievers etc

[Kasane]

All displaced Muslims should be resettled in Muslim countries.

[cooked]

Just saying....

https://www.scribd.com/document/153991509/BENGALIS-SEIZE-THE-LAND-OF-THE-BODO-PEOPLE-IN-ASSAM?fbclid=IwAR3cy7vYdMo0SiqpoIqGX9w7QkEWx17tYgTjJJd4lFm7CqTKQY3PEKSc2KU

 

The so called Rohingyas are Chittagonian Bengalis, and that's what everyone, including themselves, called them. Around 1959 Islamic scho;ars started systematically replacing the word 'Chittagonian' with 'Rohingya' and then invented the story thjat they had been there for centuries, based on a single reference from 1799 which means 'people of the Rakhine' without reference to their religion at all and is the ONLY mention until aforementioned 1959.

[Ulic]

On 6/17/2019 at 9:07 PM, PremiumLane said:

Yes, a complex situation, but that doesn't mean because there are militants you take away the rights of all people and use that to justify the killing of families. That makes you as bad as the militants. 

 

And calling bs on the whole of the Rohingyas don't want coexistence, source for the claim? 

Simple for Myanmar. Promise right of return when Palestinians get right of return to Israel. That will be never. Rohingyas have never been recognized as Burmese by Burma/Myanmar. They are Linguistically, religiously and genetically Bangladeshis. So they are in the correct location now in Bangladesh.