To mark the second anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar into Bangladesh, thousands of Rohingya refugees on Sunday participated in a rally and reasserted their demand that Myanmar grant them their citizenship and other related-rights.?
News agencies reported varying number of demonstrators, from 30,000 to 200,000 but the protest came days after Bangladesh with the help of the U.N. refugee agency attempted to start the repatriation of 3,450 Rohingya Muslims. More than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh.?
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None agreed to go back voluntarily, citing fear for their safety and a lack of confidence in Myanmar, reported Daily Sabah. The UNHCR said that building confidence was essential for repatriation.
Myanmar had scheduled Aug. 22 for the beginning of the process but it failed for a second time after the first attempt last November.
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The repatriation deal is based on an understanding that the return has to be "safe, dignified and voluntary." The refugees also insisted on receiving Myanmar citizenship and other rights, which the Buddhist-majority nation has refused to grant so far.?
Reports suggested that placards and banners reading "Never Again! Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day" and "Restore our citizenship" were widely demonstarted.?
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Myanmar has consistently denied human rights violations and says military operations in Rakhine state, where most of the Rohingya fled from, were justified in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents.
A UN-established investigation last year recommended the prosecution of Myanmar's top military commanders on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for the crackdown on the Rohingya. Myanmar dismissed the allegations.