Just taking legal action against Myanmar and putting global pressure on Myanmar as to the repatriation process of the displaced persons who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar can’t settle the on-going issue. Bangladesh should follow the repatriation process agreed by both sides, said Zaw Htay, the spokesperson of the President Office.
“The international community is putting pressure on Myanmar regarding the repatriation process. The ICC is suing Myanmar. The complex issue remains in Bangladesh. Bangladesh should use the problem-solving approach. The problem can’t be settled by suing Myanmar. We will have to negotiate the problem with Bangladesh. Especially, Bangladesh should follow the repatriation process and cooperate with Myanmar according to the bilateral agreement. Our problem will still remain as long as Bangladesh doesn’t cooperate. Bangladesh needs to understand this point,” said Zaw Htay.
There were those who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar in 1993. Collaborative efforts resulted in a success in the repatriation process. Cooperative measures are of great importance. The repatriation process remained deadlock as Bangladesh failed to cooperate. Only with the collaborative efforts can settle the problem, said Zaw Htay.
“Bangladesh and Myanmar carried out the repatriation process two times in the past. According to this knowledge, mutual cooperation can solve the problem and these were examples. Both sides have physical arrangements to implement the agreed points. Working groups have been already formed. The root cause of the unsuccessful repatriation process is that Bangladesh fails to cooperation and this is a point,” said Zaw Htay.
Myanmar and Bangladesh met in the discussions of ministerial level to step up the repatriation process. We have to hold tripartite discussions which the foreign minister of China acts as the witness, said Zaw Htay.
“At last, we have to hold a table discussion at UN General Assembly where the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Chinese representative, Union Minister Kyaw Tin Swe and the Bangladeshi minister attended and then discussed the repatriation process. A promise when to start the repatriation process was given in the prescience of China. We think it will come true because of the promise. Our side well-prepared for this, but it did not come true,” said Zaw Htay.
The displaced person who returned Myanmar from April 14 in 2018 to November 14 in 2019 totaled 415. The cooperation of Bangladesh is of great importance and Bangladesh needs have a sense of neighborliness. If Bangladesh doesn’t have a sense of cooperation, humanitarian crisis will become worse and worse. Who is responsible for the unsuccessful repatriation process depends on Bangladesh that can’t start it. Our side has already prepared for it,” said Zaw Htay.
Translated and Edited by Win Htut
