Malaysia FM for safe and voluntary Rohingya repatriation
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Saifuddin Bin Abdullah said Rohingya repatriation has to be safe and voluntary.
“Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Cox’s Bazar must be taken back to Myanmar,” he told reporters at Jamtoli Mercy Malaysia Hospital after visiting Rohingya camps in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Sunday (July 7).
He said: “They have to give them (Rohingyas) freedom to move freely in Rakhine State. Citizenship, human rights must also be ensured. ASAN countries, in this regard, are continuing diplomatic efforts on Myanmar. ASAN countries are very concerned about Rohingya crisis.”
Responding to a question from journalists, Malaysian Foreign Minister said: "We have a clear picture of genocide of Rohingyas in Myanmar. Ethnic cleansing has been committed. Rohingya Muslims have been made victims of indescribable torture. For this reason, more than 10 lakh Rohingyas were forced to take refuge in Cox's Bazar region after crossing Myanmar border. Not only that, some 150,000 displaced Rohingyas are living in camps in their own country --in Myanmar's Rakhine-- for the same reason.”
The Malaysian government applauded the government of Bangladesh for their immediate response to this crisis, he said.
Malaysian Foreign Minister visited the Malaysian field hospital in Ukhia early in the morning. Later, he distributed relief materials among Rohingyas. In the afternoon, he left Cox's Bazar for Dhaka.
After wrapping up his 3-day official tour, the minister will return to his country on July 8.
