No Rohingya repatriation as it is
The Daily Star published an editorial titled “Start Rohingya repatriation soonest” on February 18. The editorial quotes Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, as saying that the violence against Rohingya refugees bears the “hallmarks of genocide.” If this is so, any repatriation will be like sending them back for execution. The editorial also calls for trying Myanmar officials in an international tribunal for their conducts. It may be pointed out that the Myanmar military is deeply entrenched in power, and the International Court lacks any police or military force to arrest any officials
The Rohingyas will be at the mercy of the same brutal military officials if they are repatriated. As I have pointed out earlier, the Buddhist extremists and the military considers the Rohingyas as unwantted aliens because of their religion. As such, they will face renewed violence if they are repatriated. Let's be realistic and allow the Rohingyas to stay in Bangladesh until some safe third-countries can be found to re-settle them in, or until some more concrete guarantee of their safety once returned to Myanmar is established.
Mahmood Elahi, By e-mail
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