tom andrewsthe UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, stressed that the current conditions there “anything but beneficial” for the return of Rohingya refugees.
deathtrap
He stressed that the very generals who launched “genocidal” attacks against the Rohingya and caused hundreds of thousands to flee the country are now in power and “Attacks on civilians while denying Rohingya citizenship and other fundamental rights”.
According to Mr Andrews, Bangladeshi officials are planning to potentially send a person back to Myanmar very soon initial group of 1,140 Rohingya refugees with a combination of threats and financial rewards.
Restricted to the “specified area”.
The returnees would reportedly go through “transit” centers in Rakhine State before being resettled in a “designated area with 15 newly established villages” which they “not allowed to leave freely“.
“The return of Rohingya refugees under these conditions would likely violate Bangladesh’s obligations under international law and would expose Rohingya to this danger serious human rights violations and possible future atrocity crimes‘ said Mr Andrews.
In March, Bangladesh authorities facilitated two visits by Myanmar junta authorities to camps in Bangladesh, the UN legal office said OHCHR.
According to reports, at least some of the refugees were forced to take part in so-called “verification interviews” with junta officials. Bangladesh and military regime officials also coordinated a sightseeing visit to Rakhine State for some Rohingya refugees.
Bangladesh officials said the refugees had expressed “general satisfaction” with the arrangements made for their return, but those reassurances were belied by reports that those who had taken part in the trip had clearly rejected repatriation plans, the said OHCHR.
“I beg Bangladesh to do this suspend immediately the repatriation pilot program,” said Mr Andrews.
Stand with the Rohingya
“I also call on the international community to offer advice and support to Rohingya refugees,” he added.
“This must include addressing the failure to provide humane support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who are unable to earn a living, continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition and whose children have very limited educational opportunities.”
Tom Andrews and other independent human rights experts are appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Councilin Geneva, under his Special procedures.
They are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations. They are not UN employees and are not paid for their work.
