LAST Thursday the UN authorities stated that it had struck a rough deal with Myanmar aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice. However, no detail of the deal was discussed in this regard.
It is only good that finally the UN proved to be instrumental in solving a long-term humanitarian crisis. At least now we can expect to see some light at the end of the tunnel. But Myanmar has to visibly prove its sincere intent to repatriate the refugees. More than nine months have passed and so far Myanmar hasn’t shown any sign to put an end to its manmade humanitarian crisis – either by itself or with joint international assistance.
The UN High Commissioner in particular mentioned that since the conditions are not conducive for voluntary return yet, the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is the first and necessary step to support the government’s efforts to change that situation.
The sequential series of signing of a formal agreement is nothing new to us, but we believe the UN authorities, like us, are well informed that MoUs are non-committal understandings between two sides, and nothing more. Bangladesh and Myanmar governments have also signed a MoU but it made little impact to change the situation.
However, we have marked a clear division in terms of issuing statements by the Myanmar authorities. Myanmar’s government said in a brief statement late on Thursday that the MoU would be signed ‘soon’, but the government spokesman shrewdly avoided from making any remark by saying ‘he had nothing more to add’. Simultaneously, in a separate statement on the same day Myanmar’s government also said, it would set up an ‘independent commission to investigate the violation of human rights and related issues in Rakhine State’ following the army operation there in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts.
Multiple statements issued on the same day, often makes it difficult to understand what the focal point for Myanmar is. It is confusing to gauge its topmost priority.
Nevertheless, following the UN’s active engagement the ball is now on UN’s court and hopefully it will play it well. Lastly, since there is no room for us to witness voluntary safe repatriation any time soon – the UN must woo donor agencies to come forward. With the monsoon knocking at our doors, the funds for taking care of refugees are fast shrinking.
The UN High Commissioner in particular mentioned that since the conditions are not conducive for voluntary return yet, the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is the first and necessary step to support the government’s efforts to change that situation.
The sequential series of signing of a formal agreement is nothing new to us, but we believe the UN authorities, like us, are well informed that MoUs are non-committal understandings between two sides, and nothing more. Bangladesh and Myanmar governments have also signed a MoU but it made little impact to change the situation.
However, we have marked a clear division in terms of issuing statements by the Myanmar authorities. Myanmar’s government said in a brief statement late on Thursday that the MoU would be signed ‘soon’, but the government spokesman shrewdly avoided from making any remark by saying ‘he had nothing more to add’. Simultaneously, in a separate statement on the same day Myanmar’s government also said, it would set up an ‘independent commission to investigate the violation of human rights and related issues in Rakhine State’ following the army operation there in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts.
Multiple statements issued on the same day, often makes it difficult to understand what the focal point for Myanmar is. It is confusing to gauge its topmost priority.
Nevertheless, following the UN’s active engagement the ball is now on UN’s court and hopefully it will play it well. Lastly, since there is no room for us to witness voluntary safe repatriation any time soon – the UN must woo donor agencies to come forward. With the monsoon knocking at our doors, the funds for taking care of refugees are fast shrinking.
