Malaysia begins repatriating Rohingyas

LUMUT, Malaysia, Sept 29: Malaysia deported around 1,500 Myanmar nationals, including children, on Tuesday as part of a refugee repatriation programme, defying objections from the United Nations and dozens of human rights groups.

The deportation is the first phase of a broader plan agreed with Myanmar that could see as many as 5,000 people returned.

Malaysia has said returns are strictly voluntary, but the UN refugee agency and civil society organisations have raised concerns about the programme given Myanmar's ongoing civil war.

Dozens of buses accompanied by security vehicles arrived at a stadium near the Lumut naval base in Malaysia's Perak state on Tuesday morning, then moved to the port where two Myanmar naval vessels and a hospital ship were docked, Reuters witnesses said.

Those being returned included 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and 7 girls, aged between 8 and 60, state news agency Bernama reported, citing a Malaysian home ministry official.

In a separate statement, the ministry said the Myanmar government identified those for repatriation.

Further repatriation phases will continue subject to identification, documentation and verification processes, it said.

A Myanmar government spokesperson and its embassy in Kuala Lumpur did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Myanmar's foreign ministry said this month it was working with countries to facilitate the voluntary return of verified displaced persons in a safe and dignified manner, according to a state media report.�"REUTERS