Malaysia returns nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals amid UN warnings
Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals deported from Malaysia have arrived in Yangon, despite warnings from the UN refugee agency and rights groups that returning people to parts of the country could expose them to persecution, forced military conscription and other serious abuses. The group is part of a planned repatriation of about 5,000 people.
Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals deported from Malaysia arrived in Yangon on Sunday, despite warnings from the UN refugee agency and rights groups that conditions in parts of Myanmar remain unsafe for returnees. The group, which included 86 women, arrived in southern Yangon after being transported from Malaysia aboard two navy warships and a hospital ship. Nay Lin Tun, a regional government minister, confirmed their arrival.
Myanmar state media reports said the returnees had been convicted of staying illegally or committing other immigration violations in Malaysia. They are part of about 5,000 Myanmar nationals Malaysia plans to repatriate in stages. Malaysia’s Home Ministry said 10,388 other Myanmar nationals were being held in immigration detention centres.
The returns have drawn criticism from the UN high commissioner for refugees and rights organisations, which said Myanmar’s security and humanitarian conditions remain volatile. They warned that people sent back could face persecution or forced conscription in areas affected by conflict. Kelley E.
Currie, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said Malaysia was required under international law to respect non-refoulement, the principle barring the return of people to places where they face a real risk of persecution, torture or other serious violations. She said the risk of unlawful return was substantial in the current circumstances. It was not clear whether any Rohingya were among those returned.
The Muslim minority faces persecution in Myanmar and has been denied citizenship. Han Win Aung, a Myanmar Foreign Ministry official, said the repatriated people were “genuine citizens”. Malaysia hosts about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UN refugee agency, including approximately 126,000 Rohingya.
The country is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants. Myanmar’s military-backed president, Min Aung Hlaing, is expected to visit Malaysia this month for talks on refugee and migrant issues.
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