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PM urged to halt "involuntary" repatriation

UNHCR accuses Dhaka of forcing Rohingyas to go

Star Report
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Sadako Ogata, appealed Wednesday to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to take all steps to halt the "coerced return" of the Myanmar refugees to their homeland, according to a press release available
Ogata issued a veiled threat to the Bangladesh government that her organisation would pull out of the refugee management process if the latter did not review its repatriation policy
The statement released-from Geneva" where the, UN body is headquartered accused the government of not letting UNHCR officials interview the Rohingya returnees privately.
"Mrs Ogata wishes to do all4 she can to promote voluntary repatriation and protect and assist refugees, but she-will be forced to reassess her role if her mandate cannot be carried iout satisfactorily". the state-
ment said.
"In past weeks. UNHCR has witnessed the involuntary repatriation of Myanmar refugees — incidents that have been confirmed by other independent sources as well. More than 4000 people have reportedly returned to Myanmar from Bangladesh, many of whom were never interviewed by UNHCR”, the press release said.
The UNHCR statement, giving a reminder to the government that Bangladesh pledged its "strict adherence to the . principle of voluntary repatriation". said, "UNHCR has been prevented from conducting private Interviews to ascertain whether those returning arc indeed doing so voluntarily".
"Furthermore, UNHCR has been denied free and unhindered access to the refugee camps. It is therefore unable to carry out its protection mandate, nor can it effectively monitor the relief program."
The statement also aixused Bangladesh of not willing to comply with UNHCR sugges tions In this regard.
"UNHCR has been holding intensive negotiations with se nior Bangladesh government officials tn an effort to ensure that minimum international Standards of protection arc applied so that UNHCR can discharge its mandate. However the Bangladesh Government has so far been unwilling to change its existing practices," the press release added.
The statement also spoke of the High Commissioner's "deep concern" about the security situation in the refugee camps where "beatings, violence, demonstrations and other incidents'" had taken place resulting in deaths.
The statement reiterated that "the High Commissioner is continuing her efforts to obtain access to returnee areas in Myanmar."