Kaladan News

Dated: July 11, 2003

Process of Forced Repatriation Continued in the Rohingya Refugee Camps

Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar, July 11: The Bangladesh camp officials and the local UNHCR staffs are continuously threatening the remaining Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong and Nayapara refugee camps to go back to Burma without any protection, said a Rohingya refugee leader. The refugees have been forced to put their signatures or thumb impressions on blank papers to be used later stating voluntary repatriation, he further said.

The refugees, who refuse to do so, cannot live in the camps. If any one disobeys such order of the camp officials, he is jailed under false and fabricated charges (such as criminal charges under Bangladesh Penal Code) or forcibly repatriated or deprived of all his entitlements and facilities in the camp such as, food, ration, medical treatment and shelter etc., he further added.

The UNHCR local staffs are silent on the present policies of the camp officials, despite the fact that they have mandate to protect the refugees’ rights and their voluntary repatriation, the source further said

The Refugees said that the last deadline of repatriation was fixed on 1st. July 2003 from the side of Bangladesh Government. As per their schedule, the last batch of Rohingya refugee was repatriated on 29th. June 2003. Although the deadline is already over, the camp officials are still continuing their plan of action on the remaining camp refugees while trying to create a new deadline for repatriation, said another source from the camp.

It may be mentioned here that back in 1991-1992 a total of 2,50,877 Rohingya refugees entered into Bangladesh to escape large-scale persecution by the Burmese military. Of them 2,34,581 were repatriated by 29 th. June 2003 while some 20,892 registered refugees including newborn babies are still remaining in the two camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh according to camps officials and press reports.

While talking to the Kaladan Press, a refugee leader said that many repatriated Rohingya refugees are again entering into Bangladesh as the persecution is still continuing in Arakan.

Most of the newcomers are taking refuge in the rural areas of Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts. These newcomers need help and succor from international community and NGOs while all the refugees call for protection from forced repatriation until congenial atmosphere is created in Arakan for their safe return, another refugee leader said.

Fear looms large in the minds of the refugees over the possible closure of refugee camps. It will bring them more miseries with an uncertain future. It is also feared that the Rohingyas will ultimately lose their national identity in their own homeland in Burma as well as in the host country of Bangladesh, he further added. #

The Editor

The Kaladan Press Network

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