Rohingya refugees living in no man’s land refused Tuesday to return to Myanmar without guarantees of citizenship and security after Bangladesh and Myanmar officials met to discuss their repatriation, Mizzima News carries a report by AFP.
The 6,000 Rohingya were among the first to flee Myanmar in the wake of a military crackdown on the Muslim minority in late August. They have been living ever since in a makeshift camp in a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries.
In recent weeks the Rohingya refugees have come under pressure to return, with a Myanmar minister warning of “consequences” if they remain in no man’s land.
But community leader Dil Mohammad said they would not return without guarantees of security, citizenship and compensation for property lost in the clampdown.
“We are not going to return to our homes and villages in Myanmar unless our demands are met. We want citizenship, all rights, security to our lives and property and compensation,” he said.
On Tuesday officials from both countries held talks to decide the fate of the 6,000 before speaking to them directly in no man’s land.
“Every person we spoke to said that they would go back to their homes if they got security,” the head of the Bangladesh delegation, Abdul Mannan said.