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Rohingya repatriation deal signed (TH)
Context
Bangladesh to return 6,00,000 Muslim refugees to Myanmar; process expected to start in two months
What
Bangladesh and Myanmar have signed a memorandum of understanding on the return of Rohingya people who fled the Rakhine state in the wake of a military crackdown
Points Rejected by Myanmar
- Bangladesh wanted a time frame for the beginning and end of repatriation which Myanmar did not agree to
- Dhaka also sought the involvement of UN agencies in the verification process, which was also rejected by the other side
Joint working group
The two countries agreed to form a joint working group at the Foreign Secretary-level to start the repatriation process
Ethnic cleansing
U.S., in what appeared to be a policy reversal, called the military operation in Rakhine “ethnic cleansing” and threatened targeted sanctions against those responsible for it
Concerns
Rights groups have raised concerns about the process, including where the minority will be resettled after hundreds of their villages were razed, and how their safety will be ensured in a country where anti-Muslim sentiment is surging
