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Rights Groups Slam ASEAN's Positive Take on Rohingya Repatriation Plan

Zsombor Peter

   BANGKOK - A report by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
   (ASEAN) on Myanmar's readiness to repatriate Muslim Rohingya who fled
   to neighboring Bangladesh paints a mostly positive picture of the
   country's efforts.

   But rights groups say the report glosses over still-dangerous realities
   in western Myanmar's Rakhine State, where the U.N. accuses the
   country's security forces of orchestrating a violent campaign of ethnic
   cleansing in late 2017 that drove some 700,000 Rohingya across the
   border.

   The rights advocates are urging the regional bloc to rethink its
   approach and focus on the root causes of the crisis at its leader
   summit in Bangkok this weekend.

   At its last leader summit in November, ASEAN called on its disaster
   management unit, the AHA Center, to assess Myanmar's readiness to
   resettle the refugees and how the center could help.

   Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed in November 2017 to start repatriating
   volunteer refugees within two months. But hardly any of them have taken
   up the offer, insisting that Myanmar first ensure their safety and
   rights to land, freedom of movement and citizenship.
   

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