Kaladan News

 

Dated: Tuesday, June 14, 2005

 

Police Arrested 3 Burmese Refugees

 

Teknaf, June 14:  Police arrested 3-Burmese refugee from Nayapara camp of Cox’ Bazar District of Bangladesh on 12th June, 2005, to resume forced repatriation, said a refugee from Nayapara camp.

 

The arrestees are identified as Rashid Ullah, 33, MRC# 42855, Block# E, Sayed Alam 35, MRC# 39217, Block# E and Salay Ahamed, 37. All three refugees are from Nayapara camp.

 

On 12 June, 2005, at about 4:00 pm, the camp police arrested 4 refugees including aforesaid three but one of them could manage to escape. However, after arrest, the refugees were sent to the Teknaf police station to file fabricated cases against them, said a friend of Rashid Ullah.

 

The three arrestees are targeted by the concerned camp authorities since long after hunger strike was occurred in refugee camp because of forced repatriation.

 

Rashid Ullah, one of the arrestees was expelled from the camp since January 2003 accusing him in two cases as he was the death against of forced repatriation. He stayed out of the camp for two years working as a daily labor and fishing.

 

However, he was granted bail from the court with the cooperation of UNHCR while he was working at Cox’s Bazar and then he was allowed by the authorities to stay with his family in the camp in 2004. After entering the camp, he was frequently threatened by the concerned authorities to accept repatriation. But, he strongly opposed to go back to Burma, said his brother.

 

There are 16 families in Nayapara refugee camp who have not been taking ration since 2000 on account of forced repatriation. The two other arrestees are included in 16 families. They were also severely tortured by the authorities and accused in many cases before.

 

Azim Ullah, one of the brother of arrestee said, “We do not know what cases would be filed against them. The refugees who have been given clearness by the Burmese government fear if they refuse repatriation, they may be arrested or forcibly repatriated by any means.”# #

 

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