Malaysia has announced that it will not proceed with repatriating 5,000 Myanmar refugees if their lives are found to be at risk upon their return. This decision comes as authorities continue to screen the refugees ahead of the planned handover.

Background

The refugees in question are ethnic Rohingya, and their repatriation is being carried out following rising tensions with local communities in Malaysia. Rohingya refugee schools across the country were shut down, with many Rohingya children reportedly facing harassment and threats. Some refugees were also evicted from their homes in the state of Penang and briefly detained by authorities after gathering outside the UNHCR building in Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance.

The foreign and home ministries are currently reviewing the plan to identify the 5,000 refugees to be returned to Myanmar. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that Malaysia, as a responsible country, will not return the refugees if they would be persecuted or their lives would be threatened. The junta government in Myanmar is ready to receive them, but Malaysia will study the criteria and implement the plan only if appropriate.

Human Rights Watch has urged the government to reverse its plans, noting that these refugees face persecution and other rights abuses in Myanmar. The organization has called on the Malaysian government to show regional leadership in responding to the crisis in Myanmar rather than forcibly returning people who are the targets of the junta’s brutality.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.