Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals repatriated from Malaysia arrived in Yangon on Sunday, despite warnings from the United Nations refugee agency and rights groups that conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe for many returnees.
The group, which included 86 women, had been convicted of illegal stay and other immigration violations in Malaysia, according to Myanmar state media reports.
The returnees were transported from Malaysia aboard two navy warships and a hospital ship last Tuesday before arriving in southern Yangon on Sunday. Regional government minister Nay Lin Tun confirmed their arrival.
The group is part of around 5,000 Myanmar nationals expected to be repatriated from Malaysia in stages. Malaysia’s Home Ministry has said that another 10,388 Myanmar nationals are currently being held at immigration detention centers.
UN and rights groups raise safety concerns
The repatriation has drawn criticism from the United Nations and human rights organizations, which have warned that Myanmar’s security and humanitarian situation remains volatile.
Rights groups and UN officials have raised concerns that some returnees could face persecution or forced military conscription, particularly in areas affected by the country’s ongoing conflict.
“Under international law, the Government of Malaysia is obligated to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and prevent the return of individuals to situations where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations,” Kelley E. Currie, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said in a statement on Thursday.
“In my assessment, the risk of refoulement in the present circumstances is substantial,” Currie added.
It was not immediately clear whether any Rohingya were among those repatriated. The predominantly Muslim Rohingya community has faced longstanding persecution in Myanmar and has been denied citizenship.
Myanmar remains mired in conflict
Myanmar has remained engulfed in conflict since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021.
The coup triggered widespread protests and armed resistance, with fighting subsequently spreading across large parts of the country. The continuing conflict has left the security situation unstable and created significant humanitarian challenges.
The concerns surrounding the repatriation center on whether those being returned could face danger once they leave Malaysian custody, particularly if they are sent to areas affected by fighting or military recruitment.
Malaysia is home to around 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR, including approximately 126,000 Rohingya. That makes it one of Southeast Asia’s largest refugee-hosting countries.
However, Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants.
The latest repatriation has therefore renewed questions over how countries should balance immigration enforcement with their obligations to protect people who could face persecution or serious human rights violations if returned.
