Rohingya in Bangladesh protest against efforts to send them back to Myanmar

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh / YANGON (Reuters) – Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh on Thursday protested against any attempt to send them back to Myanmar after the postponement of the launch of a repatriation plan.

Bangladesh has begun preparations to repatriate a first group of 2,200 Rohingya to Myanmar on Thursday, according to a plan agreed with Myanmar in October, but by the end of the afternoon, no refugees had arrived. moved from the other side of the border, Myanmar officials said.

The plan sparked many doubts that the US Agency for Refugees and Humanitarian Organizations, who fear for Rohingya security in Myanmar, and many Rohingya in camps in Bangladesh have objected to.

"No, no, we will not go," hundreds of Rohingya protesters chanted at Unchiprang camp in southeastern Bangladesh, near the border with Myanmar.

Some demonstrators also waved signs saying "We want justice" and "We will never return to Myanmar without our citizenship".

According to US agencies, more than 700,000 Rohingyas have fled a major crackdown in the state of Rakhine (Myanmar) last year in response to Rohingya insurgency attacks against security forces.

According to Rohingya refugees, Buddhist soldiers and civilians have massacred families, burned hundreds of villages and gang rapes. United States investigators accused the Myanmar army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies almost all the accusations, claiming that its security forces have engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against "terrorists".

Myanmar accused Bangladesh of failing to provide returnees but said it was still ready to accept them.

"The Bangladeshi party has not transferred anyone so far. To be honest, Bangladesh is reluctant to follow the physical arrangement, "said Myint Thu, Permanent Secretary at the Myanmar Foreign Ministry, during a briefing.

Unverified images on social media showed officials on the Burmese side of the border waiting in a reception center.

"We will accept them according to the agreement signed by both countries. Whether they come back or not, it's their own decision. "

Earlier, three sources directly informed on the issue, said repatriation would not begin Thursday, none of the detainees have accepted.

"Nobody wants to go back," said one of the sources.

The Bangladeshi government refused to comment.

The repatriation of a first group was to start on Thursday.

But Bangladesh promised not to force anyone to return and asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that short-listed candidates wishing to return do wish to return home.

US human rights leader Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Bangladesh to end the repatriation plan, warning that lives would be put in "serious danger".

The UN human rights office continued to receive reports of ongoing human rights violations against the Rohingya in Myanmar, including alleged killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, said Bachelet.

Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya as an indigenous ethnic group and most are stateless. Many in the predominantly Buddhist country call the Rohingya "Bengalis", suggesting that they belong to Bangladesh.