Cox's Bazar, Rohingya delegation in Myanmar to consider repatriation

A group of 27 members visited several villages built in Maungdaw district, but to return to Myanmar they demanded security guarantees and citizenship. The pilot project, supported by Beijing, plans to involve at least 1,100 refugees. Previous attempts have failed due to fears of a resurgence of violence.

Cox's Bazar (AsiaNews) - A 27-member delegation travelled to Burma's Rakhine State in recent days to assess the repatriation of the Rohingya from the Cox's Bazar refugee camp that is home to around one million of them, most of whom fled persecution by the army in 2017.

With China's support, Bangladesh and Myanmar are trying to implement a pilot project to begin repatriating the Muslim minority before the monsoon season, hoping that the Rohingya who have visited Rakhine will convince others to return.

The group, consisting of 20 Rohingya representatives and seven Bangladeshi officials, visited 15 newly built villages in Maungdaw district on 5 May, but once back in Cox's Bazar, the Roningya raised several demands, including obtaining citizenship and ensuring their safety in the context of the current civil war following the coup on 1 February 2021.

The delegates voiced criticism and concerns about the repatriation project: they said they would not return to the Rakhine unless they are resettled in their homelands, where there are currently police outposts and army barracks. 

Mohammad Salim, a resident of camp number 26 who was part of the delegation that visited Rakhine, said: 'After many years, we had the opportunity to return to Myanmar. We saw the camps there. We asked, 'Why the camp? For whom?' They replied: 'For you'. But what good would it be to go back if we don't get protection and citizenship?

At that point they told us that we will be given the Nationality Verification Card (NVC)', which many Rohingya consider inadequate. Salim explained that the NVC is usually issued to foreigners: 'This way we will continue to be treated as guests. If we are not given land we will not get citizenship,' he commented. 'We have asked for the land in our villages to be returned to us, then we will build the houses with our own money,' Salim added. 

Bangladesh Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said the parties should make concessions to solve the problem: "These talks will not solve the issue. How can a problem that has not been solved for 60-70 years be solved in a day or two?" The pilot project is expected to involve around 1,100 refugees, but no start date has yet been set.

Mizanur Rahman added that the Burmese junta authorities will travel to Bangladesh within a week to gain the trust of the Rohingya and convince them to support voluntary repatriation. Before now, the Burmese army had shown little inclination to take back the refugees, who have never been granted citizenship in the past. There had already been repatriation attempts in 2018 and 2019, which failed because the Rohingya feared a resurgence of violence against them.

Members of the Rohingya delegation were told that those staying in the new villages will receive an acre of farmland from the government and their children will be given the opportunity to study in state schools.

During the visit, Maungdaw district commissioner Aung Moi showed a video of the facilities in the new villages and urged the Rohingya to move in, while the deputy commissioner said the Rohingya will receive NVC, which will be issued in phases.

• bangladesh
• myanmar
• cox's bazar
• refugees
• repatriation