Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's assurances on Tuesday that Myanmar stood ready to start the verification process at any time to ensure repatriation of refugees who have fled to Bangladesh over the past month has been received by the Rohingya community living in Delhi with much scepticism.
Rohingyas living in a refugee colony near Kalindi Kunj said the leader in her address did not even once denounce the atrocities based on ethnicity that have been continuing for years in the Rakhine state and gave no guarantee to Rohingyas that they would be safe if they returned.
Mohammad Salim Ullah, who fled Myanmar for Bangladesh in 2005 before coming to India in 2012, said, “Aung San Suu Kyi’s has broken her silence only due to international pressure. So many people have died over the years and she has done nothing. We had a lot of faith in her earlier but she has given us no guarantees and has not done anything to give us any hope that we can return safely.”
Speaking of the threat of deportation from the Indian government, Mr. Salim Ullah said, “Any friendly person or country welcomes a guest with open arms and offer them biryani and kebabs to eat but if they overstay then the host will naturally not be that welcoming. The same is the situation in India where we were welcomed but as time has passed, the government is no longer as welcoming.” He adds that they will go to any country that welcomes them if deported, but they will never go back to Myanmar.
Sohail Khan. a fellow Rohingya who crossed over in 2012, said Ms. Suu Kyi has said there will first be a verification process and only then will they be given their nationality back. “What if we go back based on the assurances given by her and then find ourselves thrown into a camp? In India, we are living as refugees but we have the freedom to work, earn a living and lead a decent life. Back home we will only fear being killed as there is no rule of law.”
The Rohingyas also said that over the past month, in India, there has been a campaign to defame them by calling them terrorists and criminals. “In our camp, all we are bothered about is going to work and earning a living for ourselves. We fear that this name-calling will affect our children who will then for the rest of their life have to keep defending this tag,” said Mr. Salim Ullah.
Those living in the refugee camp in Delhi said they have not faced any problems from the police or neighbours due to the allegations that they are a threat to national security but in other places in India like Hyderabad and Jammu, some members of the community have raised complaints that the attitude of people who live in areas surrounding them have changed ever since the government has changed its stance.
“India has given us honour, a country to live in and a chance to earn a living; why would we want to attack India,” asked a refugee, requesting anonymity.
