Ensure Rohingyas’ safe return
Myanmar continues to delay the process of Rohingyas’ safe repatriation back to their homeland. Moreover, Myanmar’s religious affairs minister recently made a derogatory and provocative remark about Rohingya refugees. He referred to them as “Bengali” and falsely claimed that Bangladesh was not letting them return.
Bangladesh’s foreign minister rightly protested the falsehood, reminding Myanmar that its “anti-Bangladesh, anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim policy” is regarded by many as being an apartheid one.
Like the minister, Myanmar maintains that it was Bangladesh that was not allowing Rohingyas to go back. But in fact, it is the unsafe conditions prevailing in Myanmar that Rohingyas are extremely worried about. Recently, Reuters published an excellent investigative piece that detailed how the Myanmar army has been torturing the remaining Rohingyas who are being forced to live in ramshackle camps.
Myanmar cannot continue to spread falsehood. It stands accused of coming short of creating appropriate conditions for Rohingyas’ safe repatriation.
Zillur Rahaman
By email
