Myanmar to host int'l delegation to Rakhine

Myanmar will host an international delegation, including envoys from several countries, to the Northern Rakhine State to show its preparations for repatriation of Rohingyas, Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen said.
The delegation will assess conduciveness of the situation there (for starting the repatriation), the foreign minister said while talking to the newsmen after a seminar in the city on Wednesday.
Responding to a question regarding the international media report that government infrastructure have been built in 40 per cent of the Rohingya-dominated areas in Rakhine, the minister said he has not received such information from any official source.
"Rather, when the Myanmar officials talk to us, they seem to be very sincere (regarding Rohingya repatriation). They will take a group, comprising envoys from many countries, to show them their preparations."
Dr Momen strongly protested Myanmar's claim that it was Bangladesh, which failed to repatriate the Rohingyas.
"The Rohingyas are the people of Myanmar, and the country has to take them back. It is their responsibility."
The latest attempt to send the Rohingyas to Myanmar failed, as the country had failed to convince these people to return to their places of origin in Rakhine State, the minister pointed out.
"Now, they have to motivate their people. It is their responsibility, not ours. We cannot send them by force. We want voluntary repatriation."
Replying to a question, the foreign minister said although the Rohingyas were not given 'refugee' status, Bangladesh cannot force them to go back, as the country has signed an agreement for voluntary repatriation.
However, the Rohingyas should not wait for getting all the facilities for going back to their homeland, he opined.
The Bengalis, who took shelter in India during the Liberation War in 1971, came back to home after the end of the war, and started rebuilding their houses, demolished by the Pakistani forces.
Similarly, the Rohingyas should first go back to Myanmar, and then they can also start rebuilding their houses, the minister noted.
Replying to a question, Dr Momen said shifting the Rohingyas to Bhashanchar is just a temporary solution.
"We want permanent solution to the problem, and that is sending them to their homeland in Myanmar," he added.

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