This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/22/rohingya-muslims-repatriation-back-to-myanmar-postponed

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Rohingya Muslims' repatriation to Myanmar postponed Rohingya Muslims' repatriation to Myanmar postponed
(34 minutes later)
Bangladeshi agreement to send back members of abused minority, due to begin on Tuesday, is on hold Delay comes amid fears that members of abused minority will be coerced into leaving Bangladesh
Michael Safi and agenciesMichael Safi and agencies
Mon 22 Jan 2018 07.53 GMTMon 22 Jan 2018 07.53 GMT
Last modified on Mon 22 Jan 2018 12.10 GMT Last modified on Mon 22 Jan 2018 13.00 GMT
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
View more sharing optionsView more sharing options
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
CloseClose
The gradual repatriation of more than 650,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar from Bangladesh has been postponed amid widespread fears that refugees would be forced to return, a Bangladeshi official has said.The gradual repatriation of more than 650,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar from Bangladesh has been postponed amid widespread fears that refugees would be forced to return, a Bangladeshi official has said.
“The main thing is that the process has to be voluntary,” said Abul Kalam, the refugee and repatriation commissioner, on Monday. He added that paperwork for returning refugees had not yet been finalised and transit camps had yet to be built in Bangladesh.“The main thing is that the process has to be voluntary,” said Abul Kalam, the refugee and repatriation commissioner, on Monday. He added that paperwork for returning refugees had not yet been finalised and transit camps had yet to be built in Bangladesh.
Myanmar had announced that the process would begin on Tuesday, two months into the signing of the first agreement on 23 November, but Bangladeshi officials had been reluctant to confirm the start date. Myanmar had announced that the repatriation process would begin on Tuesday, two months after the signing of the first agreement on 23 November. Bangladeshi officials, however, have appeared reluctant to confirm a start date.
Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali told a press conference on Sunday he could not could not give a specific day. “The process is on-going,” he said. “You will see when it begins.” On Sunday, AH Mahmood Ali, Bangladesh’s foreign minister, told a press conference he could not could not give a specific day. “The process is on-going,” he said. “You will see when it begins.”
It was not immediately clear whether a new commencement date would be set.It was not immediately clear whether a new commencement date would be set.
The postponement came amid growing concerns among international aid workers and the Rohingya that they could be coerced to go back to Myanmar. Most fled just months ago, escaping attacks by security forces and Buddhist mobs. The postponement came amid growing concerns among international aid workers and the Rohingya that the refugees could be coerced to go back to Myanmar. Most Rohingya refugees fled the country just months ago, escaping attacks by security forces and Buddhist mobs.
“If they send us back forcefully we will not go,” Sayed Noor, who fled from his village in Myanmar in August, said over the weekend, adding that Myanmar authorities “have to give us our rights and give us justice”. Sayed Noor, who fled in August, said: “If they send us back forcefully we will not go.” He added that Myanmar authorities had “to give us our rights and give us justice”.
An agreement both countries signed late last year said the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who had fled Myanmar since August would eventually leave Bangladesh in a process that guaranteed them “safety, security and dignity”. The agreement signed in November said the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who had fled Myanmar since August would eventually leave Bangladesh in a process that guaranteed them “safety, security and dignity”.
Rohingya leaders drew up a list last week of minimum demands they say need to be met before the refugees agree to return. They include holding the military accountable for alleged killings, lootings and rape and the release from jails of “innocent Rohingya” picked up in counter-insurgency operations. Rohingya leaders drew up a list last week of minimum demands they said needed to be met before the refugees would agree to return. These include holding the military accountable for alleged killings, looting and rape, and releasing “innocent Rohingya” detained in counter-insurgency operations.
David Mathieson, a human rights researcher who has spent years working on Rohingya issues, criticised the agreement before the latest announcement.David Mathieson, a human rights researcher who has spent years working on Rohingya issues, criticised the agreement before the latest announcement.
“It’s a fantasyland, make-believe world that both governments are in,” he said, noting that security forces in Myanmar had just forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya across the border. “Now you’re expecting them to come back, as if they’re in a conga line of joy after what you did to them?”“It’s a fantasyland, make-believe world that both governments are in,” he said, noting that security forces in Myanmar had just forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya across the border. “Now you’re expecting them to come back, as if they’re in a conga line of joy after what you did to them?”
The Rohingya Muslims have long been treated as outsiders in largely Buddhist Myanmar, derided as “Bengalis”, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though generations of Rohingya have lived in Myanmar. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, in effect rendering them stateless. They are denied freedom of movement and other basic rights. The Rohingya Muslims have long been treated as outsiders in largely Buddhist Myanmar, derided as “Bengalis”, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though generations have lived in Myanmar. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, in effect rendering them stateless. They are denied freedom of movement and other basic rights.
Many of the people who fled earlier violence and moved into displacement camps inside Myanmar have been unable to leave those settlements for years. Most Rohingya lived in poverty in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, near the Bangladesh border. Many of the people who fled earlier violence and moved into displacement camps inside Myanmar have been unable to leave those camps for years. Most Rohingya lived in poverty in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, near the border with Bangladesh.
The recent surge of violence erupted after an underground insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, attacked at least 30 security outposts in Myanmar in late August. The military and Buddhist mobs then retaliated against Rohingya across Rakhine in a frenzy of murders, rapes and burned villages. The UN has described the violence as “textbook ethnic cleansing”. The recent surge of violence began after an insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, attacked at least 30 security outposts in Myanmar in late August. The military and Buddhist mobs then retaliated against Rohingya across Rakhine in a frenzy of murders, rapes and razing villages to the ground. The UN has described the violence as “textbook ethnic cleansing”.
Doctors Without Borders believes that at least 6,700 Rohingya died in the attacks, which sowed terror across their communities, sending more than 650,000 fleeing across the border. Médecins Sans Frontières estimates that at least 6,700 Rohingya died in the attacks, which sent more than 650,000 fleeing across the border.
The Rohingya are Muslims who live in majority-Buddhist Myanmar. They are often described as "the world's most persecuted minority". The Rohingya are Muslims who live in majority-Buddhist Myanmar. They are often described as "the world's most persecuted minority". 
Nearly all of Myanmar's 1.1 million Rohingya live in the western coastal state of Rakhine. The government does not recognise them as citizens, effectively rendering them stateless.Nearly all of Myanmar's 1.1 million Rohingya live in the western coastal state of Rakhine. The government does not recognise them as citizens, effectively rendering them stateless.
Extremist nationalist movements insist the group are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, although the Rohingya say they are native to Rakhine state.Rights groups accuse Burmese authorities of ethnic cleansing, systematically forcing Rohingya from the country through violence and persecution, a charge the government has denied.Extremist nationalist movements insist the group are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, although the Rohingya say they are native to Rakhine state.Rights groups accuse Burmese authorities of ethnic cleansing, systematically forcing Rohingya from the country through violence and persecution, a charge the government has denied.
In early January, following up on their November 2017 agreement, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a deal to begin sending back the refugees starting on Tuesday. Officials have said they expect about 1,500 refugees to go back each week, though only those with identity documents, which most Rohingya lack, will be allowed into Myanmar. Following up on their November agreement, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a deal earlier this month to begin sending back the refugees from this Tuesday. Officials have said they expect about 1,500 refugees to go back each week, though only those with identity documents, which most Rohingya lack, will be allowed into Myanmar.
Both countries are keen to start the repatriations. Bangladesh is weary of hosting Rohingya who have spilled across the border for decades. More than a million are now believed to live in Bangladesh. Myanmar, meanwhile, hopes the repatriations will lessen the international condemnation it has faced over the violence. Both countries are keen to start the repatriations. Bangladesh is weary of hosting Rohingya who have spilled across the border for decades. More than a million are now believed to live in Bangladesh. Myanmar, meanwhile, hopes the repatriations will lessen the international condemnation it has faced because of the violence.
Associated Press contributed to this reportAssociated Press contributed to this report
RohingyaRohingya
MyanmarMyanmar
South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
BangladeshBangladesh
RefugeesRefugees
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content