The 1993 MOU between UNHCR and SLORC
By
Mr. Aman Ullah
On
November 1993, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) singed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Rangoon with SLORC to repatriate
more than 250,000 Muslims Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. However it
was not publicly available. The following was issued by the
Information Section of the UNHCR on 5 November 1993.
A
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Union of
Myanmar and UNHCR was signed on 5 November 1993, in Yangon. The
Director General of the Department of Immigration and Manpower, U
Maung Aung singed the MOU on behalf of the Government and Mr. W.
Blatter, Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and Oceania, NHCR,
Geneva, on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees. The signing of the MOU marks a milestone in the
voluntary repatriation programme from Bangladesh. It is the
result of an agreement reached during the visit to Myanmar of Mrs.
Sadako Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in
July of this year.
The
MOU stipulates the modalities of UNHCR's presence and programmes in
the Rakhine State. It states, interalia, that UNHCR will be
given access to all returnees; that the returnees will be issued with
the appropriate identification papers and that the returnees will
enjoy the same freedom of movement as all other nationals.
The
voluntary repatriation programme has the following components:
1.
The movement phase, during which the necessary infrastructure
will be put into place to facilitate the reception of a larger number
of returnees.
2.
Initial assistance in the villages of origin. In
addition in relief items such as household goods and construction
materials (bamboo), the returnees will also receive
food assistance for two months, provided by WFP.
3.
The Reintegration phase: to enhance the economic and social
stability of the returnees, community level projects in the fields of
agriculture, health, water and sanitation and education
will be implemented with the respective technical departments
which will also benefit the surrounding population. Close
coordination will be maintained with UNDP and other UN agencies
such as UNICEF and WHO; this is in order to avoid any overlapping and
to assure the continuum from relief to development.
UNHCR
will in the coming weeks seek the financial support of the
International Community to implement this important voluntary
repatriation programme from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
To
implement the programme the UNHCR and the World Food Programme(WFP)
is launching a US $ 38.1 million project to supplement the US$ 16.2
million required to care for the refugees in Bangladesh before they
repatriated .
Details
are as follows:-
• The
repatriation will be voluntary. To build confidence, a UNHCR and WFP
presence will be established in Arakan State. To make the prospect of
returning attractive, UN agency will provide improved economic and
social benefits to the returnees.
• SLORC
will grantee international UNHCR staff access to Arakan State
including Buthidaung and Maungdaw. Returnees will be issued
“appropriate” identification paper and given “the same freedom
of movement as all other nationals.” SLORC will improve basic
infrastructure and services in the area through project funded by the
UNHCR.
• A
technical mission of UNDP, UNHCR, WFP and SOLORC traveled to Arakan
State in September 1993 and designed the repatriation project. UNDP
issuing similar design in other area of Burma and is coordinating
closely with UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF.
• The
repatriation will involve 4 phases; Preparation, Movement from
Bangladesh to Burma, Relief assistance, and Reintegration.
• The
overall responsibility for the project implementation is with the
office of the Director General of Immigration and Manpower, Ministry
of Home Affairs, Rangoon. UNHCR will fund additional SLORC staff.
• Preparation—UNHCR
staff will be based in Rangoon and travel to Arakan State as
required. WFP will have 2 expatriates and 5 local staffs. UNHCR will
assist SLORC to upgrade reception centers in Maungdaw township at
Taungbro, Ngakura, Pyinpyu, Kanyinchaung and Magyichaung, and build a
new reception center at Buthidaung. Boats, trucks and fuel will be
brought to transport the refugees. A separate radio station will be
established between Rangoon, Sittwe and Maungdaw.
• Movement
– Returnees will be registered by the Immigration Officers and
later issued “appropriate” identification papers. After two
nights at reception centers they will be returned to their villages
of origin. This phase is expected to last 1995.
• Relief
– returnees will be given enough food for the 60 day in their
villages. WFP food commodities will be purchased locally. Bamboo,
thatch and other materials will also purchase for the returnees.
• Reintegration
– UNHCR Community projects will focus on i) Water and Sanitation,
ii) Health, iii) Agriculture and Fisheries, iv) Education,. SLORC
funded by UNHCR will employ community development workers, water
installations will be constructed by SLORC with UNHCR assistance.
Boats and motor cycles will be purchased for SLORC health workers.
Rice mill and boats building projects, construction of irrigation
dams will be funded. Carpentary, food process, mat making and
handicrafts will also supported. Teachers training and renovation of
schools will be undertaken. All these projects will be implemented
through SLORC.