Myanmar's delegation meets with Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

Myanmar delegation's meeting with Rohingya Refugees ended without breakthrough

The meeting, which a total 35 leaders of the Rohingya community attended, was the first ever interaction between them and the Myanmar government since the latest exodus of Rohingyas began in late August, 2017

The first ever interaction between the Government of Myanmar and representatives of different Rohingya communities—who have taken shelter in Bangladesh to escape atrocities by Myanmar security forces—ended in Cox's Bazar on Saturday without any breakthrough.

Both sides still appear to be worlds apart on the principle issue of granting citizenship to the persecuted community, sources at the meeting told Dhaka Tribune.

Also read: Myanmar delegation holds repatriation talks with Rohingya in Bangladesh https://mol.im/a/7292721

The meeting, which a total 35 leaders of the Rohingya community attended, was the first ever interaction between them and the Myanmar government since the latest exodus of Rohingyas began in late August, 2017.

The Myanmar side is still denying citizenship to Rohingyas, which is their core demand, the leaders of the community told this correspondent.

The only plus point from the meeting appears to be that both the sides have decided to sit again, but the date and the venue are yet to be decided. 

Rohingya community leader Mr. Dil Mohammed also attended today's meeting. He said: "Myanmar will never take us back. This is just a performance, whenever they feel international pressure, the government of Myanmar starts scheming. Visiting the Rohingya camps, today is part of it." Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEJT5Ct

The meeting took place at the extension of camp number 4 at Balukhali in Ukhia and lasted more than three hours. The atmosphere sometimes grew tense as the sides presented their perspectives, according to sources at the meeting.

The Myanmar delegation, however, did not speak to the media.

The 17-member team includes 12 officials from the Myanmar government and five representatives from other Asean countries.

"It will be very easy to finish the crisis if #GoM willing"

The #Rohingyas were indigenous ethnic minority of #Arakan, officially restore their nativity status then starts the peace talk; as they are very loyal with the land & govt, then can be persuaded them unless they may die here in polythene camps, will not go back at all. If forcibly sends back, may reveal similar exodus very soon again" @mir_sidiquee: Read more: https://lnkd.in/gYfai4Y

Representatives of Bangladesh, who were tasked, only to facilitate the meeting, included Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Abul Kalam and Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, among others.

Because of the persistent efforts of Bangladesh, a delegation, which is the first ever team from Myanmar, is currently in Bangladesh to persuade hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas to return to their homes in Rakhine.

The 15-member Myanmar delegation is led by its permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, equivalent to Bangladesh’s foreign secretary.

According to a deal signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar in November, 2017, the repatriation was supposed to begin within two months of the inking of the bilateral instrument. But, due to the non-cooperation and unwillingness of the Myanmar government, this did not happen.

Apart from visiting Cox’s Bazar, the team will hold a meeting with the foreign secretary-in-charge on Sunday, as Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque will be out of the country at the time.

Dhaka Tribune
The highlighted sentences are the author's own collection through phone calls to the camps.