KALADAN NEWS
Dated: June 20, 2004
Hungry Rohingya Refugees Observed World Refugee Day 2004.
What an awful story of the Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh!
Cox’s Bazar, June 20: Today, thousands of hungry Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong camp of Bangladesh, observed World Refugee Day-2004 to find a durable solution of the refugee crisis, said a refugee from the camp.
There are about 7,000 Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong camp are still refusing to take food rations since 9th June 2004, demanding adequate protection and full refugee status, while they are totally dependent on UN and other aid agencies for food. But, the UNHCR, Bangladesh authorities and the International Community have paid little attention to the standoff of refusal of rations, he further said.
These refugees are deprived of their appropriate rights and protection in Bangladesh. Despite respect to 1951 UN Convention and 1967 UN Protocol relating to the status of refugees, the Bangladeshi camp authorities have been allegedly terrorizing and criminalizing the refugees through various means in the camp. The behaviors of the camp officials are completely crucial that violate the human rights and the UN treaties, said another refugee from the camp, who participated in the celebration of the day.
Today at around 11:00 am, refugee teachers with their students numbering about 400 gathered in their schools and at about 2:00 pm, the general refugees numbering about 2,000, including women, old men and children gather in the football ground of the camp while Mr. Qurban Ali, Mr. Kabir Ahmed (both are refugee teachers) and others delivered speeches based on World Refugee Day. They express their awful situation in Bangladesh over a decade and need an immediate long-lasting solution of the Rohingya refugee problems. They want no more awful refugee lives in Bangladesh, he further added.
Regarding the ration strike, Mr. Lalu, Mr. Jafar Alam and Mr. Mohammad delivered speeches on how peacefully to achieve the goal. At the end of the meeting, many refugee women, old men and children gave their commitments that they are ready to die until having a peaceful negotiation with UNHCR and Government of Bangladesh. We need adequate protection. So, dying is better than alive, living in Bangladesh refugee camps, said a refugee woman.
Refugees requested to media groups to inform to the international community about the unbearable behaviors of the Bangladeshi camp officials towards Rohingya refugees. Refugees also appealed to UNHCR, Bangladesh Government and International Community to take appropriate measures to resolve the current standoff in a peaceful manner, she further said.
When asked UNHCR in Cox’s Bazar about the situation of Kutupalong camp said, “Now, we are busy. So, we will inform you later but no information has been got till writing of this report.
The purpose of World Refugee Day is to draw attention to the plight of refugees, celebrate their courage and resilience, and renew commitment to solving refugee problems. It is also an opportunity to recognize the contribution which refugees make to the countries, which host them.
World Refugee Day 2004 will focus on the search for, and implementation of, durable solutions for refugees. Based on the theme, "A place to call home: Rebuilding lives in safety and dignity", the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will look at the challenges and hopes that accompany refugees in their search for a new home through voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement, source UNHCR.
"Of the 17 million refugees worldwide, the overwhelming majorities desperately want to go back to their own homes.” But, the Rohingya refugees still refuse to go home until and unless the situation is favorable for them in Burma.
“The spirit of generosity is needed from the international community if we are to succeed in giving the millions of refugees and displaced of this world a place to call home,” said Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations in his message to mark World Refugee Day, which falls on 20 June 2004.
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