Over 400 Myanmar nationals, who are ethnic Rakhine, deported from Malaysia earlier this month remain in military custody more than two weeks after arriving in Yangon, prompting family members to call for their immediate release.
“We thought they would be allowed to return home once they arrived back in Myanmar,” a family member told DVB on the condition of anonymity. “They had already endured hardship in Malaysian immigration detention and wanted to reunite with their families as soon as possible.”
The 400 ethnic Rakhine were among the 1,476 Myanmar nationals deported from Malaysia under a bilateral repatriation programme. They arrived at Thilawa Port in Yangon on Oct. 4 aboard three Myanmar Navy vessels after being released from immigration detention centres in Malaysia on Sept. 29.
According to relatives, the 400 ethnic Rakhine returnees are being sheltered temporarily at a monastery in Thanlyin Township, located seven miles (11 km) south of downtown Yangon, as well as at unknown facilities in Hlaingtharyar Township, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown.
Regime authorities informed the 400 ethnic Rakhine that they would be assisted in finding employment but have not provided a timetable for their release, according to family members.
Malaysia’s bilateral agreement with the regime in Myanmar will repatriate up to 5,000 Myanmar nationals with nearly 3,500 set to be deported in the coming weeks after regime leader Min Aung Hlaing accepted their return during his visit with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 7-8.
Malaysia’s refugee repatriation plan has drawn criticism from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and human rights groups, which argue that conditions in Myanmar do not support safe, voluntary, and dignified returns.
The UNHCR stated on Sept. 30 that it was concerned over the continued conflict and deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar. It has not been given access to the 5,000 Myanmar nationals inside immigration detention centers in Malaysia to determine whether their repatriation was genuinely voluntary.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament that 10,000 Myanmar nationals have been sent home since January, while over 10,000 others remain in immigration detention facilities across the country awaiting processing.
Although Malaysia has hailed itself as the first country to get Myanmar to accept the return of its nationals “voluntarily”, the U.N. and several international human rights groups have urged the government to halt further returns until protection safeguards can be ensured.
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