Myanmar Insists to UN That Rakhine Is Improving

“I want to tell the worldwide organisations whether the Rohingyas are registered under the United Nations Human Rights Commission or not; they are illegal immigrants in India, ” Rijiju had said.

Singh also repeated the argument offered by the Centre in its Supreme Court affidavit, that India was not going against global law because it is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention.

“It is observed by the Central Government that some Rohingyas are indulging in illegal/anti-national activities i, e., mobilization of funds through hundi/hawala channels, procuring fake/fabricated Indian identity documents for other Rohingyas and also indulging in human trafficking”, the affidavit reads.

They said Rohingya were not seeking a right to move freely or reside anywhere within India but seeking protection of their right to life guaranteed to all persons in India by the Constitution under Article 21.

The Indian government immediately labeled the assailants “terrorists”, condemned their actions, called for them to be brought to justice, and extended “strong support” to Suu Kyi’s government.

The ministry added that the illegal immigrants began crossing over to India about four to five years ago even before the recent exodus in August this year, when over 4 lakh Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh to escape a counter-insurgency offensive launched by the Myanmar military. “It is also noted that not a single FIR has been lodged against a person from the Rohingya community in a way that would threaten national security”. “India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention”, he said, adding that the argument from some quarters that India would be violating worldwide law in deporting them is not the case. It will also once again invite Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Minister to discuss bilateral cooperation on border security.

The Rohingya petitioner, however, told the top court that deportation would violate human rights and India’s commitment to global law on refugees.

But the Army said it was responding to attacks by militants and has denied targeting civilians, a claim refuted by Rohingyas. According to the Commission, from the human rights angle its “intervention is appropriate” in the matter.

Thanking the Bangladesh government for their generosity in sheltering the fleeing Rohingya, Mothalab said he is counting on the United Nations and the global community to put pressure on Myanmar into accepting the Rohingya back. “Rohingya are not involved in any act of militancy”.

Earlier this week, Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has offered to take back those Rohingyas who wished to be back in Myanmar, but only after detailed verification.

The event was one of several organized by religious minorities around the country to show solidarity with Rohingya Muslims.