UN human rights expert urges Malaysia to halt refugee deportation to Myanmar

The new U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Kelley E. Currie, issued an urgent appeal to Malaysian authorities on Thursday, calling for an immediate halt to the ongoing repatriation of Myanmar nationals.

The U.N. human rights expert warned that returning asylum-seekers to a country engulfed in civil war poses a substantial risk of persecution, torture, and severe human rights violations, directly violating international legal obligations.

The appeal follows Malaysia’s deportation of an initial group of 1,476 Myanmar nationals aboard three naval vessels sent by the military regime, marking the start of a planned repatriation program targeting up to 5,000 individuals.

Addressing the broader security environment, Currie strongly condemned the Myanmar military’s recent air raid on civilians at the “Indian Market” in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, which killed more than 50 civilians.

She emphasized that persistent bombardments of civilian zones, coupled with severe restrictions on humanitarian access and deteriorating conditions for the four millions civilians displaced from their homes, known by the U.N. as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), demonstrate that conditions for a safe, dignified, and voluntary return do not exist.

Highlighting the acute vulnerabilities facing Rohingya populations and other displaced groups, the Currie urged Putrajaya to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement and collaborate with the U.N. system to establish legal protection frameworks for Myanmar refugees in Malaysia.

In her maiden public address since assuming the mandate as U.N. Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Currie delivered a candid assessment of the Rohingya refugee crisis on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Sept. 22.

Watch our recent Newsroom interview with Kelley E. Currie on DVB English News: