They say that sending them back to Myanmar, which is in the midst of a coup, could put them at even greater risk. But Malaysia has said those being sent back committed immigration offences, and are not the asylum seekers.
An immigration truck carrying Myanmar migrants from Malaysia back to their homeland, is seen heading towards the Naval base in Lumut, outside Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
Malaysia has sent about 1,086 Myanmar nationals back to their homeland, defying a court’s order and appeals from the human rights group to halt the process. Rights organisations say the group includes some ethnic minorities which have suffered persecution in Myanmar, the BBC reported.
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They say that sending them back to Myanmar, which is in the midst of a coup, could put them at even greater risk. But Malaysia has said those being sent back committed immigration offences, and are not the asylum seekers.
“All of those returned had agreed to be sent back voluntarily without being forced by any party,” Khairul Dzaimee Daud, Malaysia’s Director-General of Immigration, said in a statement. Daud added that those being repatriated did not include Rohingya refugees or asylum-seekers, echoing an earlier statement by Malaysia that it would not deport those registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, authorities have blocked the UNHCR from accessing immigration detention centres in Malaysia for more than a year, according to reports — which means the UN is unable to confirm Daud’s statement.
“Before sending anyone back to a situation where they could face persecution, the Malaysia government should ensure that UNHCR has access to detention centres... so the international community can be assured that it is not sending people into harm’s way,” said rights group Human Rights Watch.
Indonesia makes efforts to resolve Myanmar crisis
Regional diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmar’s political crisis gathered pace on Wednesday, while protests continued in Yangon and other cities calling for the country’s coup-makers to stand down and Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government to be returned to power. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi visited the Thai capital, Bangkok, as part of her efforts to coordinate a regional response to the crisis.
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