DHAKA-UNHCR MoU ON ROHINGYA REPATRIATION

Effectiveness sans Myanmar unlikely

Tripartite deal attempts fail as Myanmar reluctant

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday is highly unlikely to be effective in the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas until Myanmar agrees to involve the global body’s refugee agency, according to multiple sources in the government and UN agencies. Efforts to ink a tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, Myanmar and UNHCR have failed due to the reluctance of the country’s second neighbour, they told The Independent, adding that endeavours are on and will continue so that Naypyitaw agrees to involve the refugee agency with the repatriation process.

Despite being pressed hard, none of the sources could state any significant aspect of the MoU that can begin the repatriation without the consent of Myanmar to involve the UNHCR.

Defending the signing of the MoU, couple of diplomats and a UNHCR source described the development as part of the continuous process which will involve the refugee agency deeply with the process and help Bangladesh prepare better for the repatriation.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi signed the MoU in Geneva that ‘established a framework of cooperation between UNHCR and Bangladesh on the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas in line with international standards’. The details of the MoU are yet to be made public.

It has been a long wait before the signing of the deal due to the efforts to bring Myanmar onboard, said the sources.  The officials of the government and the UN organisations led many people to believe that without Myanmar’s involvement such a bilateral deal will not be that fruitful, therefore it is worth the wait.

“Look, legally, with this MoU, the repatriation is possible if there is goodwill on the part

of Myanmar. But, practically it is not possible as Myanmar does not appear to be interested at this point to take back its people,” said a senior diplomat.

“There are so many aspects involved with the repatriation of the Rohingyas. The most important aspect is the confidence of the persecuted people.

If the UN system especially UNHCR is not involved on the other side of the border, they will not want to return to their homes in Rakhine,” he said.

“We have tried our level best for a tripartite agreement involving Bangladesh, Myanmar and UNHCR. But, that did not succeed due to Myanmar’s unwillingness to involve the UNHCR. From the onset, Myanmar has been against involving the refugee agency with the process. If Myanmar changes its mind, it can sign a bilateral agreement with UNHCR or even a tripartite deal involving Bangladesh. It’s all about Myanmar’s goodwill,” said another senior diplomat. A source at the UNHCR supported the notion of the diplomat.

“We continue to make efforts so that Myanmar engages the UNHCR,” he said.   

A former top diplomat described the MoU as ‘just a piece of paper’ without the involvement of Myanmar and said that there must be sustained international pressure on Myanmar to make it agree to involve the UN refugee agency with the repatriation process.

On the return of one family to Rakhine, which was widely publicised by the Myanmar state machinery, the diplomats and the government called it nothing but a ‘mockery’.

Thousands of Rohingyas are living on the Myanmar territory of the zero point with Bangladeshi support, the Myanmar government does not appear to be

bothered about them, they said, adding that against such background, allowing just one family

back home ‘is seen as nothing but a public relations exercise’.

 

 

DHAKA-UNHCR MoU ON ROHINGYA REPATRIATION

Effectiveness sans Myanmar unlikely

Tripartite deal attempts fail as Myanmar reluctant

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday is highly unlikely to be effective in the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas until Myanmar agrees to involve the global bodys refugee agency, according to multiple sources in the government and UN agencies. Efforts to ink a tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, Myanmar and UNHCR have failed due to the reluctance of the countrys second neighbour, they told The Independent, adding that endeavours are on and will continue so that Naypyitaw agrees to involve the refugee agency with the repatriation process. Despite being pressed hard, none of the sources could state any significant aspect of the MoU that can begin the repatriation without the consent of Myanmar to involve the UNHCR. Defending the signing of the MoU, couple of diplomats and a UNHCR source described the development as part of the continuous process which will involve the refugee agency deeply with the process and help Bangladesh prepare better for the repatriation. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi signed the MoU in Geneva that established a framework of cooperation between UNHCR and Bangladesh on the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas in line with international standards. The details of the MoU are yet to be made public. It has been a long wait before the signing of the deal due to the efforts to bring Myanmar onboard, said the sources. The officials of the government and the UN organisations led many people to believe that without Myanmars involvement such a bilateral deal will not be that fruitful, therefore it is worth the wait. Look, legally, with this MoU, the repatriation is possible if there is goodwill on the part of Myanmar. But, practically it is not possible as Myanmar does not appear to be interested at this point to take back its people, said a senior diplomat. There are so many aspects involved with the repatriation of the Rohingyas. The most important aspect is the confidence of the persecuted people. If the UN system especially UNHCR is not involved on the other side of the border, they will not want to return to their homes in Rakhine, he said. We have tried our level best for a tripartite agreement involving Bangladesh, Myanmar and UNHCR. But, that did not succeed due to Myanmars unwillingness to involve the UNHCR. From the onset, Myanmar has been against involving the refugee agency with the process. If Myanmar changes its mind, it can sign a bilateral agreement with UNHCR or even a tripartite deal involving Bangladesh. Its all about Myanmars goodwill, said another senior diplomat. A source at the UNHCR supported the notion of the diplomat. We continue to make efforts so that Myanmar engages the UNHCR, he said. A former top diplomat described the MoU as just a piece of paper without the involvement of Myanmar and said that there must be sustained international pressure on Myanmar to make it agree to involve the UN refugee agency with the repatriation process. On the return of one family to Rakhine, which was widely publicised by the Myanmar state machinery, the diplomats and the government called it nothing but a mockery. Thousands of Rohingyas are living on the Myanmar territory of the zero point with Bangladeshi support, the Myanmar government does not appear to be bothered about them, they said, adding that against such background, allowing just one family back home is seen as nothing but a public relations exercise.