Myanmar ministers pressurise Rakhaine refugees to return home, offer Kyats 5 lakh-food support for 3 months- reconstruction of houses

Narinjara News, 15 February 2023

The ministers of Myanmar military council have pressurised the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Rakhine State to return to their villages before the rainy season starts. The Naypyi Taw-based ministers also offered an incentive of 3 months' food items, Kyats 500,000 per family and to reconstruction of houses-burned during the armed conflicts, to those who want to return home.

However, most of the IDPs do not prefer to return to their places as they are apprehensive of landmines in their localities which were planted in different areas surrounding the military camps.

U Saw Hla Aung, in-charge of Shitthaung monastery IDP camp in Mrauk U town, stated that the situation is yet to be safe for the families to go back to their places as the authorities cannot guarantee their security.

“I clarified in front of them that we all want to return home. But as long as the soldiers are stationed near the villages, we can not dare to go back. We are scared of the landmines. If something happens after returning to villages, it would be difficult for us to leave our
places again,” he added.

On 10 February, a group of high profile personalities led by Rakhine natural resources minister and comprising Rakhine State peace and development coordination committee cairman & Union minister of border affairs lieutenant general Tun Tun Naung and minister of social work
relief & resettlement Dr Thet Thet Khaing arrived in Kyauktaw and asked the inmates to return to their placed before the rainy days.

When minister Tun Tun Naung urged the IDPs to return home, they unonimously stated that they would only return after getting the guarantee for their lives.

In Shitthaung IDP camp of Mrauk U, many residents from Taung U, Wai Thar Li, Pauk Taw Pyin, Maung Thar Kone, Ywar Haung Taw villages and also some families from Tha Mee Hla, Sauk Khat villages under Rathedaung township are taking shelter. They were compelled to flee
after the heavy gunfights between the government soldiers and Arakan Army members broke out during March in 2019.

On 10 February too, some Union ministers visited Maha Muni IDP camp and Maha Kan Gyi Shin IDP camp in Kyauktaw and talked to the refugees. Minister Tun Tun Naung asked them to return before the rains and assured them of food supplies, but IDPs did not agree with the
proposal.

"Our houses were burnt down and  so we cannot return immediately. We hope that the authorities will first reconstruct our houses and then we will make a decision,” said a refugee of Maha Muni IDP camp, who was present in the meeting.

There are more than 1800 refugees in the camp who fled from Na Ga Yar, Shwe Pyi Thit/Haung, Kyauk Gu Su, Myauk Taung, Thar Si, Ah Lel Kyun, Pyaing Taing, Mar Lar, Kun See, Laung Shey, Tinma villages under Kyauktaw township and Thahtaykone, Seintsin, Yaychanwa villages under Paletwa township of Chin State.

The military council ministers also discussed with the camp managers along with representatives from 11 IDP camps from Minbya city at women's domestic vocational training school recently.

According to the State government sources, there are more than 66,000 refugees in various IDP camps of Rakhine State.

They include IDPs who faced the conflicts between the soldiers and AA members during 2018 to 2020 and also resurgent battles in 2022.

Some IDPs have already returned to their villages as the situation gradually improves. But most of them are not willing to return because of the landmines in their localities. They hope that the authorities will remove the mines and remnants first, then they may go back to their places.