International community’s effort not enough

The international community has lost focus and is not putting enough pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas, the refugees said in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), a representative body of the refugees, issued a media statement yesterday where it mentioned about the letter.

Rohingyas had no intention to live at the refugee camps for long, the statement said.

“The international community has lost focus and is too distracted by humanitarian issues in the camps. We keep hearing that the Rohingyas would need to stay in Bangladesh for long. This is not what we want. Bangladesh is not our home,” reads the statement.

According to the statement, in the letter, ARSPH has thanked Hasina and the people of Bangladesh for their patience and generosity.

It has also cited its willingness to work with the government of Bangladesh to ensure a safe repatriation. Right now, the refugees were not included in the decision-making process, ARSPH said in the statement. 

“Rohingya refugee families receive confusing messages and information about repatriation which is why it is important that we work together.

“The international community needs to start showing us more respect and properly talk to us. There will be no repatriation without talking to us,” read parts of the statement.

Despite agreements inked by Myanmar and Bangladesh in November 2017 and by Myanmar, UNDP, and UNHCR in June last year, the repatriation process is yet to begin.