Kaladan News

Dated: Sunday, February 13, 2005

 

 A Slow Pace Repatriation Introduced in Burmese Refugee Camps

 

Cox’s Bazar, February 13:  Recently, a slow pace repatriation was being introduced in the refugee camps to repatriate the Burmese refugees to their home, said a refugee leader from Nayapara Camp.

 

On 10th February 2005, 10 refugees of 3-family were repatriated from Nayapara refugee camp. Mohamed Hassan, 30, of Shed No. 44, Block No. C, Room No, 3 without his family (wife and a 5-year old son)  and a  6-member family headed by Mohamed Jobair, 25, son of Abdul Shuker and another a 3-member family headed by Mostafa, 22, son of Abdul Ghaffar from Block No. C were repatriated. They all hailed from Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, he further added.

 

Of them, some are forcibly and some are voluntary repatriated. The said Mohamed Hassan and 6-member family head by Mohamed Jobair were repatriated forcibly while 3-member family headed by Mostafa was repatriated by voluntary, the refugee leader more said.

 

At present, Mr. Asaduz Zaman, Camp-in-Charge of Nayapara camp is using a new strategy to compel the refugees to enroll in the repatriation lists. Regarding the new strategy, he openly declared that if any refugee will be met in quarrel with other refugee, either he/she would be repatriated or sent to jail, said another refugee leader from Nayapara camp who requested not to mention his name for security reason.

 

Regarding the order, the said Mohamed Hassan was accused to attempt to murder of Omor Hakim, the Shed Mazi (the collaborator of Camp-in-Charge) of Block No. C of Nayapara camp with a knife. The said Mazi seized a knife from Mohamed Hassan’s 5-year old son while he was playing in front of his Shed.  Getting the knife, the Mazi ran to his boss and complained against Mohamed Hassan saying that he tried to kill him with this knife, he further added.

 

Promptly, Mohamed Hassan was called to the office and asked him you were guilty as you did attempt to murder the Mazi, though Hassan repeatedly denied the accusation. The officer asked Hassan either you have to accept repatriation or imprisonment. However, Hassan accepted the repatriation because of some refugees have already been sent to jail for refusing forced repatriation. Mazis are oftenly used by their boss in many ways to harass the refugees to accept the repatriation, said Hassan’s wife, a female refugee.

 

 Now, refugees avoid to quarrelling each other for fear of forced repatriation, she further added.

 

 From Bangladesh side, the repatriated refugees got ration on 7th February 2005, 3days advance for repatriation. They received 12-kg of rice per head, ˝ kg of sugar, ˝ kg of edible oil, ˝ kg of salt, ˝ kg of blended powder (Shuji), three pots per family, two pieces of polythene per family at the size of (15 ft x 18ft) and Tk. 15,000/- per family, said another refugee, who is the relative of repatriated refugee.

 

 According to a report received  from inside Arakan, Burma, they also got Kyat 15,000/- per head, Kyat 20, 000/- for construction of house per family, Kyat 2,000/- per family for transportation, and a 50kg bag of rice per head for 3 months. They will also get another a 50kg bag of rice per head after 3 months. After six month, they will not get any supporting from any quarter. They will stand their own knees.

 

 Officers from UNHCR, refugee Camp, and WFP went to the Repatriation Center (RC) for seeing off the refugees. Refugees were sent to the RC by truck. ##

 

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