Myanmar President pardons 58 Rohingyas

Myanmar President has pardoned 58 displaced Rohingyas who were arrested while taking an attempt to reenter Myanmar from Bangladesh.

They were released from Myanmar jail but Myanmar government claimed that the first batch returnees from the camps in Cox’s Bazar arrived in Reception Centres in Myanmar.

These returnees were arrested under the “existing laws” and some were given prison sentences, said the Myanmar Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor on Sunday in a press statement headlined ‘The first returnees from the Camps in Cox’s Bazar arrived in Reception Centres.’

They were released from prison and sent to the Nga Khu Ya Reception Camp on May 26.

After the necessary verification, they will be transferred to the Transit Camp in Hla Phoe Khaung, said the Myanmar government. 

However, no comment was available from Bangladesh side yet in this regard as to know what Myanmar government meant through such press statement. 

Myanmar says this arrangement concerns only those who have not been involved in terrorism.

Effective action will be taken against those implicated in terrorist acts in accordance with law, it said.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State on November 23, 2017. 

In accordance with the agreement, arrangements have been made to receive the returnees at Nga Khu Ya and Taung Pyo Latwe reception centres, Myanmar government claimed. 

After verification at the reception centres, the returnees are to be housed at the transit camp in Hla Phoe Khaung temporarily.

A delegation led by Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye visited Cox’s Bazaar in April 2018.

Subsequently, Myanmar leader of the Joint Working Group, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Myint Thu visited Dhaka on 17 May 2018. 

Source: Agency