New Myanmar govt must address concern in Rakhine, ensure Rohingya repatriation: UK

FE Team | Published: November 09, 2020 23:53:41

The United Kingdom (UK) wants the new government in Myanmar to take steps towards safe, voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingya to their place of origin in Rakhine State addressing the root causes of conflicts, reports UNB.
"The new government must work to address the valid concerns of people across Rakhine," Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), told the news agency while exclusively responding to a few questions.
Millions voted in Myanmar's general election on November 8 with elections cancelled in Rakhine and the Rohingya disenfranchised, just the second since military rule ended in 2011.
Aung San Suu Kyi remains hugely popular in Myanmar and is expected to win.
The UK minister reminded that the solution lies in Myanmar, and the UK is working tirelessly for accountability and justice. "We'll also provide the political support needed to resolve this crisis in the long-term."
He said they also want the Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations to be implemented, including recognising the Rohingya as citizens of Myanmar and allowing them freedom of movement, as well as making sure they can access essential services, like schooling and jobs.
The government of Bangladesh has planned to relocate 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char what it says to ease the burden on Cox's Bazar camps and avoid the risk of deaths due to landslides during the rainy season.
Several Bangladeshi media outlets have recently visited Bhasan Char and found the facilities there far better than that of Cox's Bazar camps.
Asked about the relocation plan, minister Ahmad said the UK is absolutely clear that the relocation of Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char must be "safe, voluntary and dignified".
"We're extremely concerned to hear of reports of alleged abuse, including sexual abuse, taking place on the island," he said.