Myanmar seeks UN envoy’s help for Hindu repatriation

International Desk: The government has asked Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN special envoy to Myanmar, to help in the repatriation of Hindu families who fled to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine State during the vioMaynammarlence in 2017.

U Chan Aye, director general of the International Organisation and Economic Department, said the government has verified the citizenship of over 400 of the more than 800 Hindu families living in cramped refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

He said the families have sought voluntary repatriation.

U Chan Aye said on Thursday that Minister of International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin had sought the help of Burgener during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday.

“She tried to persuade Bangladesh to ensure the repatriation of the Hindu families but it did not succeed,” he said. “Therefore, we urged her again to help in ensuring their repatriation.”

U Chan Aye said the UN special envoy arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday for a three-day visit to discuss with the government the barriers to the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees from northern Rakhine.

He said the Myanmar government would accept verified refugees who want voluntary repatriation. But scheduled repatriations have failed twice over refugee fears for their welfare and safety once they return to Myanmar.

“Not only the UN envoy, but also Japan, China and India are pushing for the repatriation of the Hindus, but the Bangladesh government does not care about them,” he said, adding that the Hindus have not even been allowed to fill out the form for voluntary repatriation.

Source: MyanmarTimes

 

risingbd/Sept 6, 2019/Mukul