Myanmar Independent Commission to talk with more than 150 Rohingyas
The Myanmar government has formed the Independent Commission of Enquiry to probe into the repression on the Rohingyas. A delegation of the commission came to Bangladesh on a four-day visit to Bangladesh on Saturday.
Myanmar Independent Commission of Enquiry Team has arrived in Cox’s Bazar to interview 150 to 200 Rohingyas. However, it is presumed that the Rohingyas would not give interviews if they do not get the assurance of adequate security and safety for their return to Myanmar.
Mohammad Abul Kalam, Cox’s Bazar Refugee, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, said, “It would be tough to take the interview on behalf of the ‘Independent Commission of Enquiry’ Team if the Rohingyas do not get the assurance of security and safety. So we told the delegation team that the Rohingyas who will give interview are concerned about the security and safety of the Rohingyas. The delegation also assured us that the work will be done keeping in mind the matter.”
Mohammad Abul Kalam said this after the meeting between local administration and the Myanmar probe team at the Cox’s Bazar Refugee, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner’s office at 4 pm on Monday (August 19).
He also said, “The ‘Independent Commission of Enquiry’ Team, formed by Myanmar, came to Cox’s Bazar mainly as an advance team. Later, another team will arrive. The team’s visit to Cox’s Bazar is to investigate as to how they will work at the Rohingya camp.”
Former Japanese Ambassador Kenjo Oshima is leading the Independent Commission of Enquiry team. The other members of the team are – Prof Ong Tun Khet, Prof Eushihiro Nakanishi, Lina Ghosh, and Khin Miu Miat Sow.
The Myanmar government has formed the Independent Commission of Enquiry to probe into the repression on the Rohingyas. A delegation of the commission came to Bangladesh on a four-day visit to Bangladesh on Saturday.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and most of them entered the country since August 25, 2017.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017.
On January 16, 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar inked a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.
The “Physical Arrangement” stipulates that the repatriation will be completed preferably within two years from the start.
The first batch of Rohingyas was scheduled to return on November 15 last year but it was halted amid unwillingness of Rohingyas to go back for lack of a congenial environment in Rakhine.
