DM Monitoring
Naypyitaw: Myanmar agreed to calls by Bangladesh at a tripartite meeting facilitated by China to start the much-awaited repatriation of Rohingya in the second quarter of this year, officials said.
Bangladesh pushed hard to begin the repatriation, but Myanmar again delayed it, seeking time for logistical arrangements.
“We pushed to initiate the repatriation in the first quarter, but Myanmar sought more time for logistical arrangements and some physical arrangements. So we asked to start repatriation in the second quarter, and they agreed on it,” Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said after the meeting.
In addition, China and Myanmar also understood and agreed on the proposal pushed by Bangladesh to maintain the international community’s presence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State when the repatriation occurs, added the official, who led the Bangladeshi side in the virtual trilateral meeting with Myanmar and China on the Rohingya.
China will provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to the Rohingya people in the first phase of repatriation. Days before the meeting, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said “repatriation is the only solution to end the Rohingya crisis, and there will be no alternative.”
Bangladesh also proposed a village-based repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland while Myanmar wanted a sporadic collection of refugees who are currently taking shelter in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh following a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 and repatriation. China’s Vice Minister Luo Zhaohui virtually joined in the first secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar under the mediation of China.
A proposal was also tabled at the meeting to send a group of Rohingya to visit Rakhine directly to create an environment for those returning.
Myanmar’s preparation for repatriation
Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for International Cooperation U Hau Do Suan participated in the tripartite meeting held via videoconference.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement issued later said: “Myanmar has made all necessary arrangements for the repatriation and reaffirmed Myanmar’s readiness to receive the verified displaced persons in line with the bilateral agreements.”
