Nearly 1,500 Myanmar Nationals Repatriated from Malaysia Amid UN Warnings

Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals returned to their home country from Malaysia on Sunday, according to reports from Myanmar state media. The group, which included 86 women, arrived in Yangon, the country's largest city, after being transported from Malaysia aboard two navy warships and a hospital ship.

These repatriations are part of a larger plan to send back 5,000 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia, where 10,388 others are reportedly held in immigration detention centers. The returnees were convicted of illegal stays and other immigration violations in Malaysia.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and various human rights organizations have criticized the repatriation effort. They cite ongoing instability and conflict in Myanmar since the military seized power on February 1, 2021. These groups warn that returnees could face persecution and forced military conscription in active war zones.

Kelley E. Currie, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, stated that Malaysia is obligated under international law to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which prevents the return of individuals to situations where they face a real risk of persecution. Currie assessed that the risk of refoulement in the current circumstances is substantial.

It remains unclear if any of the repatriated individuals are Rohingya Muslims, a minority group facing persecution in Myanmar and denied citizenship. A Myanmar Foreign Ministry official told The Associated Press that the repatriation involved "genuine citizens."

Malaysia hosts approximately 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR, including about 126,000 Rohingya. However, Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants.

Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government, is expected to visit Malaysia this month to discuss refugee and migrant issues.