Just sending them back is no solution

The planned repatriation of the first batch of Rohingya could not be started yesterday. Rohingyas in Bangladesh loudly protested that they would not go to Myanmar unless they were given back their rightful citizenship of that country. Now the international community must freshly decide on their repatriation so that they do not become victims of torture in Myanmar again.

Bangladesh had earlier shared a list of 2260 Rohingyas belonging to 486 families with Burma and the return was supposed to begin with members from this list. Once the Rohingyas go back to Rakhine, a significant development in tackling the crisis will be acknowledged, though it has to be kept in mind that just sending back will not solve the problem.

UNHCR has always expressed reservations about the conditions prevailing in Rakhine and Bangladesh repeatedly said that the return will have to be voluntary, not forced. The memories of the horror unleashed by the Burmese Army are vivid in the minds of those who fled in droves to Bangladesh and it’s natural that unless they feel a sense of security, they will not want to go back.

While Myanmar has agreed to take back Rohingyas, their attitude at the global stage is hardly that of contrition. On the contrary, either their leader Aung San Suu Kyi tries to remain brazen faced or simply resorts to a wide variety of abominable prevarications over the Aug 25, 2017 crackdown which forced around seven hundred thousand Rohingyas to seek shelter in Bangladesh.

This cold faced expressions of Suu Kyi compounds the worry, because so far, there has not been any clear cut words of reassurance from the Myanmar authority that those returning will be given security of life and livelihood, let alone their citizenship. At times, it seems that Burma was simply allowing the return in order to stave off international opprobrium which she has attracted over the whole Rohingya crisis.

Any repatriation process must begin with close monitoring of the socio-political situation in Rakhine. The people going back need to feel safe and respected if they want to carry on with their lives. If Rohingyas face prejudiced treatment from the majority Buddhist community, exploitation plus alienation then their condition will not improve.

It’s the UN’s duty to carry out periodic field surveys to understand the sentiments on the grounds and detect any subtle subjugation tactics. For other Rohingyas to go back, Myanmar has to show that she is willing to atone for her mistakes by carrying out reforms in Rakhine so the overall condition sees an elevation. Simply agreeing to a repatriation just to avoid global rebuke and sustaining the centuries deep revulsion towards the Muslim minority will only trigger another catastrophe in the future. 

Just sending them back is no solution

The planned repatriation of the first batch of Rohingya could not be started yesterday. Rohingyas in Bangladesh loudly protested that they would not go to Myanmar unless they were given back their rightful citizenship of that country. Now the international community must freshly decide on their repatriation so that they do not become victims of torture in Myanmar again. Bangladesh had earlier shared a list of 2260 Rohingyas belonging to 486 families with Burma and the return was supposed to begin with members from this list. Once the Rohingyas go back to Rakhine, a significant development in tackling the crisis will be acknowledged, though it has to be kept in mind that just sending back will not solve the problem. UNHCR has always expressed reservations about the conditions prevailing in Rakhine and Bangladesh repeatedly said that the return will have to be voluntary, not forced. The memories of the horror unleashed by the Burmese Army are vivid in the minds of those who fled in droves to Bangladesh and its natural that unless they feel a sense of security, they will not want to go back. While Myanmar has agreed to take back Rohingyas, their attitude at the global stage is hardly that of contrition. On the contrary, either their leader Aung San Suu Kyi tries to remain brazen faced or simply resorts to a wide variety of abominable prevarications over the Aug 25, 2017 crackdown which forced around seven hundred thousand Rohingyas to seek shelter in Bangladesh. This cold faced expressions of Suu Kyi compounds the worry, because so far, there has not been any clear cut words of reassurance from the Myanmar authority that those returning will be given security of life and livelihood, let alone their citizenship. At times, it seems that Burma was simply allowing the return in order to stave off international opprobrium which she has attracted over the whole Rohingya crisis. Any repatriation process must begin with close monitoring of the socio-political situation in Rakhine. The people going back need to feel safe and respected if they want to carry on with their lives. If Rohingyas face prejudiced treatment from the majority Buddhist community, exploitation plus alienation then their condition will not improve. Its the UNs duty to carry out periodic field surveys to understand the sentiments on the grounds and detect any subtle subjugation tactics. For other Rohingyas to go back, Myanmar has to show that she is willing to atone for her mistakes by carrying out reforms in Rakhine so the overall condition sees an elevation. Simply agreeing to a repatriation just to avoid global rebuke and sustaining the centuries deep revulsion towards the Muslim minority will only trigger another catastrophe in the future.