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UNHCR won't take part in repatriation process

By Nadeem Qadir and Touftque Imrose Khalidi
As the physical preparations for the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees continue, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that it will not participate in the process scheduled to start tomorrow.
We will continue emergency operations in camps, but we will not be involved in supervision of refugee repatriation on Friday under the current situation . a UNHCR spokeswoman said in Dhaka yesterday.
A senior Foreign Ministry official said that Bangladesh au-
thorities were In touch with the UNHCR office in Dhaka and the Foreign Secretary had had talks with the mission chief, Darioush Bayandar. yesterday.
According to an agreement on the modalities signed May 7 by the ambassadors, the process was to start ’in presence of UNHCR’.
During the Myanmar Foreign Minister’s visit late last month. Dhaka officials insisted that the UNHCR be made party to the whole process—from the start of repatriation to the resettlement tn
their own households and original places of residence — but Yangon remained noncommittal over the UN body's involvement, leading to an ac cord whose effectiveness came into question immediately after it had been signed
According to the Joint statement signed by the Foreign Ministers, Bangladesh agreed to "fully associate the representatives of UNHCR" in the process while "Myanmar agreed that the services of the UNHCR could be drawn upon as needed at an appropriate time".
The latest UNHCR decision apparently makes the start of the repatriation process uncertain, but the two countries continue to work on the physical arrangements as the senior officials sit today tn a border town of Bangladesh.
Director General of Myanmar Immigration Ministry Maung Aung and Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Omar Farooq will lead the respective sides at the meeting at Teknaf.
The chief of the Myanmar Lunthin forces (border guards) will be among others In the
Myanmar team while the Bangladesh side will Include Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Shahldul Islam, Director (South East Asia) of the Foreign Ministry Mostafa Kamal
The UNHCR decision comes In the backdrop of the continued arrival of refugees at the rate of 2000 everyday and their demonstrations since Sunday against the repatriation bld without International guarantee' for safely. The number of refugees has already crossed 2.5O.OOO. The refugees' refusal to return virtually nullifies the bilateral accord that enshrines voluntariness.
However, Soe Mylnt, the Myanmar ambassador In Dhaka. said that he was "very much convinced that the repa triation would go smoothly." when he was asked to comment on the current situation.
"We are doing ft bilaterally and we re doing fine. We have conviction that our two peoples will get things done", the ambassador told The Dally Star last evening. He. however, said "We didn't deny the role of UNHCR".
Asked If his country would agree on the physical presence of the UN should the bilateral efforts fall, the ambassador said, "Walt and see what we're doing".
He alleged that "there are some people who are hindering the repatriation." He did not elaborate.
According to sources, both sides are trying to start the process 'symbolically' tom<#-row by repatriating a few hundred' refugees to 'honour' the agreement.
But that seems to be Impossible under the circumstances.
Bangladesh is trying to ascertain the causes of influx even after signing the agreement on repatriation, said a Foreign Ministry official.
The refugees who are coming in say they have fled persecution. Myanmar deryes the allegation.
Asked whether the repatriation would start as scheduled under the circumstances, Foreign Secretary Reaz Rahman said, " They're scared to go back ... and they'll not be pushed back. "
"A series of actions have to be taken . . .to assure them that they'll be safe on their return home . . .and to conduct such a large scale operation."
He said that "there is no door-die date" because It was a 'humanitarian problem.'
According to a Foreign Office source, Myanmar Is yet to set up the reception centres and complete other physical arrangements.
Both Bangladesh and Myanmar have selected the possible sites for exit and reception camps and conveyed to each other .
(N. Qadir is a guest correspondent).