UN slams Malaysia for ‘forced returns’ of Myanmar nationals seeking asylum

In the last two months, hundreds of Myanmar nationals are reported to have been sent back against their will by Malaysian authorities, UNHCR said

The UN’s refugee agency called on Malaysia ‘to immediately stop the forced returns of Myanmar nationals’ and instead offer them protection

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A Malaysian immigration truck carrying Myanmar migrants to a naval base for deportation is seen outside Kuala Lumpur last year. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:02pm, 26 Oct 2022

The United Nations is “seriously concerned” by Malaysia’s continued deportation of asylum seekers from Myanmar back to their home country.

UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, said it had received “multiple disturbing reports” of refoulement – the forcible return of refugees and asylum seekers – since April.

In the last two months, hundreds of Myanmar nationals are reported to have been sent back against their will by the authorities, UNHCR said on Tuesday.

An immigration truck carrying Myanmar migrants is seen heading towards a naval base outside Kuala Lumpur last year to deport them back to their homeland. Photo: AFP

“UNHCR continues to call on Malaysia to immediately stop the forced returns of Myanmar nationals seeking safety from serious harm. Sending them back to Myanmar exposes them to harm and danger,” spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo told reporters in Geneva.

“People fleeing Myanmar must be allowed access to territory to seek asylum and be protected against refoulement. Myanmar nationals already abroad should not be forced to return when seeking international protection.”

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup last year, with swathes of the southeast Asian nation engulfed by fighting.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in the military’s crackdown on dissent since the coup, which rights groups say includes razing villages, mass extrajudicial killings and air strikes on civilians.