Guarantee citizen rights and security before repatriation
KUALA LUMPUR: The agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh to repatriate Rohingya refugees back to their homeland must clarify the issue of citizenship and guarantees of security before it can proceed.
Former OIC Special Envoy for Myanmar, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said this was crucial to ensure the Rohingyas would be treated equally as citizens of Myanmar and for them to feel certain that their protection will be assured.
"Details and clarification of the agreement are a prerequisite because at the moment there are too many loopholes and uncertainty. At least, have the United Nations, and other peacekeepers there to supervise and protect them.
"If the current situation remains, I would advise the refugees not to go back to Myanmar and they should reject the proposal," he told the media after opening a special conference on the Rohingyas by the Malaysian Rohingya Council (MRM) here, today.
Recently it was reported that Bangladesh and Myanmar had agreed to the return of Rohingyas refugees within two years, with the process to start on Jan 23.
At the moment, there are about 700,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Syed Hamid, who is also a former foreign minister, said the settlement of refugees at temporary camps, which was stated under the agreement was also questionable.
"Why do they have to settle on a settlement that is equivalent to a prison camp where they cannot move freely in their own homeland, plus the camps must have proper sanitation and sewerage. No details have been disclosed about the condition of the camps," he said.
Meanwhile, a member of the MRM National Advisory Council General (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Azumi Mohamed said if the Myanmar government was sincere in tackling the Rohingya issue, it should implement the proposal raised by former UN chief Kofi Annan.
"In a show of good faith and intention, Myanmar should publicly say that they will implement the suggestions, do that as a confidence-building measure first then the trust will come," he added. — Bernama