There are more than 200 displaced persons who have arrived in Myanmar of their own way although no one enters Myanmar under the bilateral agreement on the first batch of repatriation process, said Dr Aung Thurein, Director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

The remarks came from the discussion of the director of the Ministry of SWRR in the DVB Debate with the title of “When will the displaced person return home?”

“They did not return home according to the bilateral agreement on repatriation process after making contacts with local community. They come to the borderline and cross it. We wait and fetch them on our side,” said Dr Aung Thurein.

The displaced persons voiced that they were facing difficulty in staying at the IDP camps in the other country and wanted to return Myanmar and they were subject to the threats of ARSA.

“We met with the representatives from the displaced persons who returned Myanmar of their own way. We asked them what difficulties they were facing in the other country. What they said was the same as what this side reviewed. They told that they were difficulty to stay, they wanted to return and they were subjected to some threats by ARSA. It is not easy for a whole family to return. Some returns home in batches,” said Dr Aung Thurein.

Union Minister Kyaw Tin and Soe Han, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that the main reason of the unsuccessful repatriation process was the threats imposed by ARSA.

The displaced persons who had returned home include some Hindu families. They had to pay about K 200,000 including extortion money and boat fares for ensuring secure return, said Ragu Nay Myint, the leading in-charge of Hindu Aid Association in Sittwe.

The repatriation process has begun in January and November in 2018. Both countries agreed to repatriate verified 3,450 displaced persons on August 22 for the last attempt, but no one has entered Myanmar so far.

Aye Lwin, member of Rakhine State Advisory Commission led by Kofi Annan, told the Debate that 90 % of problem would be solved if it was done in accord with the 1982 citizenship law.  

Translated and Edited by Win Htut