Int'l communities caution against Rohingya return sans security

International Commu-nities working with humanitarian cautioned against Rohingya return without consultation required for ensuring Rohingyas' safety, security and access to fundamental human rights in Myanmar.
The International Development Committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Amnesty International and the UNHCR in separate statements urged the caution.
The potential return of 100,000 Rohingyas to Myanmar without a clear understanding of their legal status, interim or final destination, or even whether they have volunteered for the return trip, is a matter of grave concern, says the International Development Committee.
Stephen Twigg MP, Chair of the International Development Committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom said plans to begin repatriation for the displaced Rohingya people from Bangladesh to Burma are well underway without evidence of consultation or involvement with the community.
MPs of the committee agreed that the required conditions for the safe return of the Rohingya to Burma must include their safety, security, and access to fundamental human rights. Previous episodes of displacement and return of the Rohingya, and other ethnic minorities, in Burma over the last 20 years 'do not inspire confidence.'
The committee says that returning the Rohingya to live in Burmese-run internment camps with the threat of future deprivation and violence is unacceptable.
"The Rohingya crisis has provided the international community with an unwanted test case of the best way to respond to humanitarian crises and the needs of the displaced people involved.
We are going to have to work much harder to protect populations from threats and humanitarian crises. For decades, the Rohingya people in Rakhine State endured discrimination, marginalisation and abuse. The Rohingya have paid a heavy price for the lack of consensus amongst the international community on how and when to decide to act effectively. We cannot fail them again."
 "With memories of rape, killing and torture still fresh in the minds of Rohingya refugees, plans for their return to Myanmar are alarmingly premature. The timeframe announced today was made without any consultation with the Rohingya themselves, and offers no assurances that people will be able to return voluntarily," James Gomez, Amnesty International's Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific said in a statement.
"The most recent campaign of violence against the Rohingya was preceded by years of entrenched discrimination and abuse and for most of the 650,000 refugees who fled Myanmar last year, returning so soon will be a terrifying prospect," he added.
"Rohingya refugees are entitled to continue to seek asylum in Bangladesh and the government should focus on exploring all options to ensure continued international protection for this community.
 "The Rohingyas have an absolute right to return to and reside in Myanmar, but there must be no rush to return people to a system of apartheid. Any forcible returns would be a violation of international law, the statement said.
Meanwhile, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency spokesperson Andrej Mahecic at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday said they had observed that the government of Myanmar had endorsed the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission (RAC) led by Kofi Annan and reiterated its commitment in the bilateral arrangement with the government of Bangladesh.
"A comprehensive implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations is essential to ensure sustainable return," Mahecic said.
UNHCR stressed the importance of Rohingyas' return meeting the international standards saying that they are willing to be part of these talks on repatriation.
"To ensure that the refugees are heard and their protection guaranteed in Bangladesh and on return in Myanmar, we are willing to be part of these discussions," it said.
Before considering return to Myanmar, Mahecic said, some Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have informed UNHCR staff that they will need to see positive developments in relation to their legal status and citizenship, the security situation in Rakhine State, and their ability to enjoy basic rights back home.
The UNHCR official said major challenges have to be overcome and these include ensuring that refugees are informed about the situation in their areas of origin and potential return and consulted on their wishes.
Their safety needs to be ensured throughout - on departure, in transit and on return; and that the environment in the areas of return is conducive to safe and sustainable return, Mahecic added.
Commenting on the issue, former Ambassador Humayun Kabir told the Daily Observer on Wednesday that the international organizations have all the rights to say or address all humanitarian issues on Rohingyas repatriation but if we focus on the crisis we must say that we (Bangladesh) need immediate repatriation and exactly we are on the right path, he added.