Rohingya repatriation a priority, says Myanmar minister

A Myanmar minister told Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday their repatriation was a priority during the first visit by a top Myanmar official to victims of what the United Nations says was "ethnic cleansing" by the Myanmar army, reports Reuters.

Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who is leading rehabilitation efforts in Myanmar's western Rakhine state, met about 50 Rohingya gathered in a community centre run by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the Kutupalong refugee camp in southeast Bangladesh.

Acknowledging their mistrust and fear of Myanmar, Win Myat Aye told the Rohingya to set aside the past and prepare to "go back to your own residences", promising new villages would be built with hospitals and schools.

"The most important thing is to the start the repatriation process as soon as possible. We can overcome all of the difficulties," he said as he left the meeting.

Some refugees have said they are worried about going back to Buddhist-majority Myanmar, fearing persecution.

When asked about whether Rohingya could be granted Myanmar citizenship, which they had been long denied, the minister replied: "We are trying to have that."

For now, Myanmar is offering Rohingya national verification cards (NVC), which some refugees regard as inadequate.

The meeting became heated only when Win Myat Aye tried to persuade the refugees to accept the NVC, telling them they would be given an opportunity to apply for nationality later.