Myanmar to launch vetting process for returning Rohingya refugees

Nay Pyi Taw, Sep 28 (IANS) Myanmar authorities will soon launch a national verification process for refugees who fled violence in Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh, a minister declared on Thursday.

Before the move, Minister at the State Counselor's Office U Kyaw Tint Swe will travel to Bangladesh for talks with the authorities over the process, according to Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Win Myat Aye.

The verification process, based on principles to which both Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in 1993, will be carried out at Taungpyo Latwe village for those who return by road and at Naguya village for those who come back by waterways, Xinhua news agency quoted the minister as saying.

Under the current plan, the verified refugees will be settled at Dargyizar village, he said.

In some Muslim communities in the state, their leaders are said to have decided not to join in the process.

However, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi urged them in her September 19 speech to respond to the process, saying that they have nothing to lose.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) extremist terrorists attacked police checkposts in Rakhine on August 25 killing 12 security personnel. Myanmar authorities ordered a crack-down which led to over 415,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh.

Besides the national verification process, Myanmar authorities are also implementing a rehabilitation and resettlement and long-term development programmes not only for Muslims but also for Rakhines, Mro, Daing-net and Mramagyi as well as the Hindu minority who fled their villages due to extremist terrorists' attacks, officials said.