Junta continues to push home return for IDPs in Arakan State

11 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
11 February 2023, Sittwe

Junta-appointed ministers recently visited displacement camps in the Arakan State townships of Sittwe, Minbya, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U, during which they urged internally displaced people (IDPs) to return to their homes.

The ministers, however, did not ask IDPs about their requirements for the return, according to IDPs.

“Even if they don’t provide us with supplies, we want them to clear landmines and withdraw military outposts. IDPs will surely return to their homes if they have mental and physical security,” said U Oo Than Tun, manager of the Maha Muni IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township. “No one wants to live in places that are not their home. IDPs had thought they would be able to tell ministers their requirements when they came. However, the ministers only told us to go back to our villages, and then left.”

It is not practical to tell IDPs to return to their homes while their safety cannot be guaranteed, said veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than. The regime is pushing IDPs to return to their homes in an effort to show the outside world that life in the country has returned to a semblance of normality, he added.

“The regime wants to take advantage of the ceasefire in Arakan State, and create an impression that Arakanese people support them,” said U Pe Than.

Junta-appointed Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister Dr. Thet Thet Khaing, International Cooperation Minister U Ko Ko Hlaing, Immigration and Population Minister U Myint Kyaing, Border Affairs Minister Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung and the chairman of the Arakan State Administration Council, Aung Kyaw Min, visited some IDP camps in Arakan State from February 8-10.

The junta’s Information Ministry said Friday that the regime is fulfilling the requirements for IDPs to return to their homes, and will provide support for them to “live a life better than the pre-armed conflict level.”

Former Lower House lawmaker U Aung Thaung Shwe said the regime is doing so to ease international pressures. 

“They want to close the IDP camps. I heard they will also take back Muslims from Bangladesh. They hope that it will ease international pressures on them, and also want to show that things are getting back to normal in Arakan State.”

The regime is irresponsible to have repeatedly asked IDPs to return to their homes while it has not made any systematic preparations to facilitate their return, critics say.

Some 90,000 people displaced by fighting in Arakan State and Chin State’s Paletwa Township still could not return home as of January 11, according to a UNOCHA report.

They are not willing to go back home because of the risks of landmines planted near their villages and in the surrounding forests from which many derive their livelihoods.

According to a DMG tally, despite a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, six civilians died and 12 others were injured in explosions of landmines and unexploded ordnance between November 26 of last year — when the two sides reached their truce — and February 9.