UNHCR urges compassion in handling of Rohingya boat people

The boat carrying more than 200 Rohingya that was escorted out of Malaysian waters. — RMAF

THE United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) has urged countries to show compassion to refugees desperately in need of “assistance and protection” at this time.

Agency spokesperson, Rupert Colville, said in a statement that all states should ensure their responses to migrants in distress at sea are based on international human rights and refugee law, and that they are permitted safe disembarkation.

“Dangerous interception practices, including pushing back boats that are trying to land, must be scrupulously avoided, ” he implored.

On April 16, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) said it spotted a boat about 130km off the west of Langkawi and then forced it away from the island and back to sea, fearing that the Rohingya refugees on board could be infected with Covid-19.

The RMAF said it had given the roughly 200 men, women and children on board some food before the boat was escorted out of Malaysian waters.

“With their poor settlements and living conditions... it is strongly feared that undocumented migrants who try to enter Malaysia either by land or sea will bring [Covid-19] into the country, ” RMAF had said in a statement.

This happened on the same day that the Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued 396 Rohingya from a boat that had departed Bangladesh for Malaysia nearly two months ago. According to reports, 60 people had died on the crammed vessel that was adrift in the Bay of Bengal.

This echoed incidents in May 2015 when Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia pushed boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees out to sea, causing an international furore.

The refugees were stranded at sea after human trafficking syndicates abandoned them following the discovery of mass graves and detention camps for Rohingya and Bangladeshis near the border between Thailand and Malaysia.

“Whatever efforts are taken to combat people smuggling, this should be a time for compassion towards those in desperate need of assistance and protection.

“In light of reports of other vessels in similar circumstances still at sea, we strongly urge stepped-up search and rescue efforts to be conducted in a timely manner, ” said Colville.

Earlier this month, 202 Rohingya landed on Langkawi and were detained. They have been screened for Covid-19 and will be deported after the movement control order (MCO) is lifted. According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), there have been many attempts by illegal immigrants to enter the country by sea during the MCO period.

Human rights group Fortify Rights alleged at least two other ships remain adrift at sea between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

“Sending an ill-equipped ship of refugees out to sea is unlawful and a death sentence, ” said Matthew Smith, CEO of Fortify Rights.

“The Malaysian government should urgently authorise search and rescue missions for any additional boats in distress. Covid-19 is no excuse to send refugees to die at sea, ” he said.

Malaysia is considered to be a favourable destination for the mainly Muslim Rohingya.

They pay thousands of dollars to human trafficking syndicates to take risky journeys on boats to Malaysia.

As of this month, there are 101,010 Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UNHCR in Kuala Lumpur, although the total is estimated to be at least twice that number.

The United Nations considers the Rohingya as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.