Repatriation of refugees likely to start in 2 weeks: Myanmar

The Myanmar government needs about two weeks to verify the first list of more than 8000 refugees sent by the Bangladesh government, said U Win Myat Aye, minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, on Wednesday, reports The Myanmar Times.

“We will repatriate [the refugees] immediately after we complete verification,” he said.

He added Myanmar is ready to accept as many as 300 refugees a day on both land and river routes once verification is completed.

The Immigration Department said Home Affairs authorities will first check the lists against their register. Once cleared, immigration officers will check the documents of those on the list.

“We will send the verified lists to Bangladeshi authorities, and we will begin repatriation when Bangladesh gives the green light,” said U Win Myat Aye.

U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the President Office, said the 8000 refugees are being processed by immigration officials and the government will accept those whose documents are cleared.

“We are working as fast as we can” he said.

About 650,000 people, mostly Muslims, have fled to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine since fighting between government forces and fighters of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which the government considers a terrorist organisation, began last August.

Last November, Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding to repatriate the refugees starting in January.

But the repatriation has yet to start as both sides sort out technical problems.

On Tuesday, Myanmar and Bangladeshi district border officials met at the Taung Pyo Letwe General Administration Department to discuss the repatriation.

According to the General Administration Department in Maungdaw township, they also discussed people from the so-called Zero Line area, a no man’s land along the Myanmar-Bangladeshi border.

The area is considered the territory of Myanmar.

Thousands of refugees who allegedly do not want to be repatriated have occupied the area. Refugees fear for their security when they return.

U Kyaw Kyaw Oo of the General Administration Department in Maungdaw said over 5000 residents are staying in the area and don’t want to join the repatriation and national verification card (NVC) process that the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments are implementing.

“It’s impossible that they do not want to participate in the repatriation because they are concerned about their security,” he said. “It just makes no sense.”

A statement from the government’s Information Committee about the district border meeting on Wednesday said the requirements of the Bangladeshi side are being worked on by local Myanmar authorities, and security arrangements are being made for the returnees.

“The people staying in the area do not come from a single village or village tract, so they were invited to send a representative,” said the statement.

U Ye Htut, deputy commissioner of the General Administration Department of Rakhine State, said there has been no threat or pressure from Myanmar and it is up to them to decide.

“Where they are staying now is no-man’s land, so no one should be there,” he said.

“A list is being prepared for those who want to return. Myanmar had repeatedly met with them and asked them to return, but they are not cooperating.”

U Zaw Htay of the President Office said on Wednesday authorities from Myanmar and Bangladesh will make list those staying in Zero Line area, as some terrorists may be among them.

“We have declared that over 1300 people were involved in acts of terrorism, so we must make sure,” he said.