October
31, 2017
After
the meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), journalists
made enquiries concerning the provision of humanitarian aid in Rakhine State to
U Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Ministry of the State Counsellor Office.
U
Zaw Htay replied, “We are negotiating with Bangladesh concerning the Rakhine
State affairs. What we want to say is that we have been ready to launch the
repatriation process. The State Counsellor herself publicised to the world
officially. On our side, we have been ready to accept anytime. Further
negotiations must be made. Now we felt concerned for the delayed process. That
is because we have said we will accept anytime, and then Union Minister U Kyaw
Tint Swe went to Bangladesh. Then, State Counsellor has said the process will
be based on the 1993 agreement. After the Union Minister’s visit, Minister for
Home Affairs and Minister for Foreign Affairs from Bangladesh were invited to
visit Myanmar. The Minister for Home Affairs alone came.
Last
week the ministerial meeting was held in Nay Pyi Taw, signing an MoU from both
sides. But concerning the acceptance, we did not reach an agreement yet. We are
ready to start, but the other side did not agree yet, and the process was
delayed. This is the No. 1 fact. Secondly, acceptance of people under the 1993
agreement was managed successfully two times. Believing that this will work, we
approached in this way, but we did not get the nod from Bangladesh. Only if the
first step had been successful, can successive approaches be made.”
The
Director General added, “The cause of the delay is attributed to the matter of
building the world’s biggest refugee camps. And, in Geneva, Switzerland several
hundred millions of dollars has been donated. Currently they have got nearly
US$400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of
delaying the programme of deporting the refugees. They have got international
subsidies. We are now afraid that they would have another consideration as to
repatriation. Yet, we will continue to negotiate and accept as soon as
possible. In accepting them, we have designated two places for acceptance and
for scrutiny. Based on the 1993 agreement as agreed by Bangladesh and Myanmar,
we will accept. Under the investigation, if they are found to be true that they
have lived on our side, they will be sent to their original places.
Construction of villages is under way. For now, it was started at Khonedine
where the Mro nationals had fled and their houses were burnt down. But safer
places were arranged for them.”
“Now
we will implement for the third time based on negotiation results between the
two countries and rules and regulations. We will make non-stop. As it is, we
are concerned that the process would delay. If the delay lasts long, we are
afraid, we are intentionally making as we would not like to accept them. Here
what we want to emphasise is that Myanmar Police Maj General demanded the list
of the people who had been in Bangladesh during the Bangladesh’s Minister for
Home during his visit, but until now we did not get the list. They replied they
will send the list by e-mail. That is of great importance. That is because we
have had actual amount lists. According to the news media, the amount reached
nearly one million. This is completely impossible. If it will have been
received, it will be more convenient for us to deal with. We have evidence
enough at our immigration department. First we felt worried it will delay.
Secondly we haven’t received the list we demanded. We will accept at Taungpyo
Letwe and Ngakhura. We have three major processes as formed by the Union
Project. One for acceptance under the principle of humanitarianism. Two for
resettlement and rehabilitation and Three for regional development and freedom
from conflicts forever. We will implement the three processes, inviting
international communities that would like to help.
By
Myo Myint and Mi Mi Phyo (MNA)
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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