Malaysia to seek Myanmar's explanation over reported detention of repatriated nationals
- Kuala Lumpur to instruct its charge d'affaires in Myanmar to investigate reports, foreign minister says
By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said that Kuala Lumpur would seek an explanation from Myanmar over reports that hundreds of its nationals repatriated from Malaysia remain in military detention in Yangon.
Mohamad said Monday that Malaysia would also instruct its charge d'affaires in Myanmar to investigate the reports and determine the condition of those reportedly detained.
"We will ask the Myanmar government to explain if there are reports that 300 people are still being detained," he said, adding that Malaysia would "demand that the Myanmar government honour the assurances it gave us."
Mohamad said the repatriation had been carried out voluntarily.
Malaysia has repatriated 10,000 Myanmar nationals held in immigration detention since January through air and sea routes, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said earlier this month.
On Sept. 29, Malaysia repatriated 1,476 Myanmar nationals aboard three Myanmar naval vessels under a broader arrangement involving around 5,000 people.
The UN refugee agency, however, expressed concern over the operation, saying conditions in conflict-hit Myanmar did not permit safe and sustainable returns.
Saadet Gökce