• People are fleeing “indiscriminate violence” against civilians.
• It is still occurring throughout the nation.
• There are also reports of conflict between ethnic armed groups and the military in several border regions.

The forced deportations of those who have fled the military-run nation have been criticized by the UN agency for refugees as “putting many lives in danger” and have been urged to stop immediately.

According to a statement released by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday, people are fleeing “indiscriminate violence” against civilians that is still occurring throughout the nation as well as conflict between ethnic armed groups and the Myanmar military in several border regions.

In the statement, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Gillian Triggs emphasized that citizens of Myanmar who are currently overseas “should not be forced to return while seeking international protection.”

Since February 2021, there have been numerous instances of the forcible return of refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar’s neighboring nations, according to Triggs.

“Myanmar’s neighbors have a long history of protecting and helping refugees,” the woman stated. “We urge them to honor their responsibilities under international law and their longstanding humanitarian practice.”

The UNHCR statement was released not long after the Reuters news agency reported that Malaysia had deported 150 people from Myanmar this month, including former naval officers who had applied for refuge despite the possibility of being arrested upon return to their country.

Six former Myanmar naval officers were deported by plane by Malaysian authorities on October 6, according to sources who asked to remain anonymous since the situation is delicate.

Upon returning to Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, at least one navy officer, Kyaw Hla, and his wife, Htay Htay Yee, were jailed, according to the people who spoke to Reuters. According to the people who spoke to Reuters, the two were expelled from Malaysia because they lacked the proper documentation to be there.

Reuters was unable to determine why they were detained in Yangon.

According to Reuters’ sources, at least three of the former Myanmar naval officers and Htay Htay Yee had requested protection from the UN agency for refugees and had submitted applications for documentation that would identify them as refugees.

According to Reuters, the prime minister’s office, the foreign ministry, and Malaysia’s immigration service did not respond to calls for comment.

Despite Malaysia’s outspoken condemnation of Myanmar’s violence since the military overthrew an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi last year, reports of deportations have emerged.

More than 100,000 Muslim Rohingya refugees from ethnic cleansing campaigns by the Myanmar military now reside in Malaysia. According to Reuters, Malaysia has recently begun deporting more people from Myanmar as a result of a stricter stance regarding refugees and migrants.

The deportations draw attention to what some critics regard as a conflicting position following Malaysia’s unprecedented censure of Myanmar’s military.

The death of four pro-democracy activists by Myanmar in July was denounced by Malaysia’s foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who also urged ASEAN nations to communicate with the opposition in Myanmar. The minister urged the regional alliance to “buck up” efforts to support a peace process in Myanmar and advance humanitarian aid.

Charles Santiago, a lawmaker from the opposition in Malaysia, urged the administration to halt deportations and pursue a consistent approach to Myanmar that upholds democracy and human rights.

Also Read

Eight people dies in Insein jail bombings in Myanmar prison

At least eight people were killed when explosions occurred at the notorious...