KUALA LUMPUR - The UN refugee agency has distanced itself from Malaysia’s planned return of Myanmar refugees, warning that conditions in Myanmar do not allow safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation.
UNHCR said it was not involved in the return process in an emailed statement provided directly to Reuters. The warning comes days after Malaysia set Sept. 29 for the first group of 1,476 Myanmar nationals under a wider programme covering 5,000 people.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry has described the programme as voluntary. It said the first group consists of eligible Myanmar nationals who agreed to return and that the operation would be carried out safely and under procedures agreed with Myanmar. Two Myanmar Navy warships and a hospital ship are expected to transport the group, according to Bernama.
UNHCR, however, told Reuters that continuing armed conflict and violence across Myanmar meant conditions were not conducive to refugee returns. The agency also invoked the principle against returning people to a country where their rights or freedoms could be threatened.
“Any refugee return must be voluntary, based on an informed decision, and take place in conditions of safety and dignity,” UNHCR said in the emailed statement to Reuters. The agency urged authorities to consider each person’s protection needs and said it was prepared to discuss safeguards with the relevant authorities.
A Home Ministry spokesperson declined to comment directly on UNHCR’s warning when approached by Reuters and referred to the ministry’s previous statement that participation in the programme was voluntary.
Separately, UNHCR’s voluntary-return process for registered refugees in Malaysia includes counselling and information about conditions in their country of origin and Malaysian exit procedures to help them make an informed decision.
Those who choose to return are issued a Voluntary Repatriation Form for their exit-permit application.
Malaysia hosted about 215,600 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR at the end of February, according to the agency’s latest Malaysia figures. Of those, 193,824 were from Myanmar, including about 126,144 Rohingya.
