ROHINGYA REPATRIATION
ARSA attack not to affect JWG meeting
Meet Jan 14 or 15 with
option for a 2nd day
HUMAYUN KABIR BHUIYAN
The maiden meeting of the Bangladesh-Myanmar joint working group (JWG) for the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, who had to flee their homes in Rakhine to escape the brutalities committed by the Myanmar security forces, local Buddhist mobs and people from different ethnic groups, will be held either on January 14 or 15, according to government sources. The meeting is planned for one day, as of now, they said, adding that there is an option for a second day if the tasks cannot be completed in a day.
The officials further said that the alleged attack on a Myanmar military truck on Friday by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is not going to have any effect on the planned JWG meeting.
The Bangladesh chapter of the JWG, led by Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, is likely to travel to Myanmar on January 13, said the officials, stressing that the matter will be finalised in a day or two. The 15-member JWG comprises representatives from twelve ministries, departments and agencies.
The agreed terms of reference (TOR) mandates the joint working group to undertake all necessary measures to start the safe and voluntary return, resettlement and reintegration process of displaced Myanmar residents as envisaged in the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State signed by Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Myanmar Minister attached with state counselors office Kyaw Tint Swe on November 23, 2017 in Nay Pyi Taw.
The group will develop physical arrangements for return, which would include mechanism of verification, time schedule, transport and logistics arrangements, reception procedures, communication etc. to commence the repatriation process within the stipulated time frame mentioned in the Arrangement, state the terms of reference.
The joint group will assess the process and report to the respective governments quarterly. The joint working group will take assistance of the UNHCR and other mandated UN agencies and interested international partners at various stages of repatriation.
The first JWG meeting will be held around January 15. No precise date has yet been fixed. But, most likely the meeting will be held either on January 14 or 15, said a senior government official familiar with the process.
It will be finalised by tomorrow or the day after, he said.
Look, there are so many things involved here including the schedule of airlines and convenience of our host in Myanmar, said another senior official, who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
We will try to complete the discussion in one day. But, in case we cannot, we have kept an option for a second day, he said, hoping for a successful discussion.
To a question, he added, Our all-out efforts will be to begin repatriation by January 23 as stipulated in the agreement signed between the two countries on November 23. But, there is a possibility that we might miss the day by few days, which, I think, is not a big deal.
About the impact of the alleged ARSA attack on a Myanmar military truck, another senior official said, There will be no effect on the JWG meeting.
To a question, he said, The Myanmar government has not communicated with us regarding the attack and it will not be discussed in the JWG meeting. It might be discussed in other forums.
When his attention was drawn to the statement of the Myanmar military in which the attackers were described as Bengali terrorists, the official said, They always do that. It is totally unacceptable.
