Burma has agreed to accept 9,000 of the 28,000 Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary, Mohamed Mijarul Quayes, announced in Dakha.
The refugees, who fled human rights abuses, forced labor and economic hardship in Burma, are living in two camps in the Cox's Bazar area of Bangladesh. Although conditions in the camp are rough, most of the refugees oppose the idea of returning to Burma.
Their plight was discussed in talks between the Bangladeshi foreign secretary and Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister, Maung Myint, during a two day visit by the Naypyidaw official. Bangladesh regards the increasing number of refugees arriving from Burma as a burden.
Chris Lewa, coordinator of the Arakan Project, said: “Any repatriation must be voluntary.” If Bangladesh forced Rohingya refugees to return by force, it would be an infringement of international law because of the human rights situation in Burma.
Repatriation of Rohingya refugees has remained a major problem between Burma and Bangladesh since 1991-1992, when more than 1million people fled from Burma's northern Arakan State, seeking refuge in the neighboring country to escape persecution.
Several sessions of bilateral talks failed to resolve the issue.
According to Arakan Project, the number of Rohingya fleeing human rights abuses in Burma's northern Arakan State increased this year over 2008.
Forced labor significantly increased as Burma pressed on with the construction of a border fence, Arakan Project said.
Burmese authorities started building the 200km wire fence in March, saying it was intended to stop human trafficking. Burma shares a 320km border with Bangladesh, partly demarcated by the Naf River, a regular route for smuggling and illegal crossings by Muslim refugees.
About 1,100 refugees from Burma were arrested in the border area this year and were sent back by the Bangladesh authorities, according to Arakan Project. However, many of the repatriated refugees returned to Bangladesh.
The 28,000 Rohingya refugees live in two camps, Kutupalang in Ukhiya and Nayapara in Teknaf, partly supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Bangladesh government has urged the Burmese regime to improve living conditions at a refugee camp in northern Arakan State before it repatriates the Rohingya.
Rohingya refugees have also been fleeing Arakan State by boat, hoping to reach muslim Malaysia. Many are thought to have have died at sea, while others landed illegally in Thailand and faced deportation.
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