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Rohingya repatriation

UN chief for world pressure on Myanmar

FE Report | July 03, 2018 00:00:00


The UN secretary general has made a fervent appeal to the world community to pressure Myanmar to create the "right conditions" for repatriation of the Rohingya.

He reasserted the call for safe and dignified return of the refugees to their place of origin in Rakhine state.

Antonio Guterres stressed the need for bringing to book those who committed atrocities against the Rohingya who are the world's 'most discriminated community'.

It is the moment for the world community to be united to ask Myanmar for right conditions so the Rohingya can return to Myanmar, he said on Monday.

That should be "in a safe and dignified manner and with all their rights as normal citizens of the country," he said this at a press briefing in Dhaka.

The UN general departed Dhaka, wrapping up his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

World Bank President Jim Young Kim, who accompanied him during the visit, was also present at the briefing.

Mr Guterres said Myanmar should ensure both reconciliation and reconstruction for the dignified repatriation of over a million of refugees.

"After their return, the Rohingya should start a normal life. And for this, the Myanmar authorities should create a condition so that other communities would not discriminate Rohingya."

"The Myanmar authorities should also address the issue of the citizenship of the Rohingya," Guterres said.

On the 'right conditions', he said physical condition should be created so that the Rohingya can move freely and enjoy all the rights of a citizen.

Lauding Bangladesh government for their contribution to protecting the displaced refugees, Mr Guterres also urged the world community to provide stronger support to Bangladesh in handling the refugee crisis.

"I urge the international community to express solidarity to both the Rohingya and to Bangladesh."

About holding the perpetrators accountable, the UN chief said a fact-finding mission is working on that and he is expecting a report from it very soon.

Asked about the 'compromise by the UN in a secret MoU between Myanmar and the UN', he said there was no question of compromising with Myanmar on the issue.

"There was a disagreement between the UN and Myanmar on the designation of this community," he added.

"We designate them as Rohingya and Myanmar wants to designate them as Bengali Muslims. But we think this is a first step towards a solution."

Narrating his experience at refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Mr Guterres said, "Our hearts were broken when we herd their story of tremendous sufferings."

"Their nationality was rejected. They didn't have any freedom of movement. We heard the stories of mass killing, rape, burning of their houses in front of them."

Meanwhile, Mr Kim said the World Bank provided $480 million grant to Bangladesh to support the Rohingya.

"We also provided $3.05 billion budget support to Bangladesh which is the second largest amount given to any country of the world in the last fiscal."

"Moreover, we're considering providing more assistance to support the local communities who are engaged in the humanitarian response to the Rohingya," he added.

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