by Fone Ying Kyu
YANGON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reiterated to cooperate in repatriation of displaced persons fleeing Mynamar's Rakhine to Bangladesh.
The pledge was made on Monday at their 2nd high-level meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on ASEAN cooperation and participation in the work process of repatriation of displaced persons in accordance with ASEAN's decision made at its 33rd summit meeting in Singapore in November 2018.
Monday's 2nd high level meeting was co-chaired by Win Myat Aye, Myanmar's minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, and Dato Lim Jock Hoi, the ASEAN secretary-general.
According to last November's ASEAN summit decision, an ASEAN delegation, led by Lim Jock Hoi came to Myanmar and conducted a field visit to Rakhine state in December 2018. In addition, the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) also conducted an initial survey for repatriation of displaced persons from Rakhine state by visiting Nga Khu Ya Reception Center and Hla Phoe Khaung Transit Center and prepared a report on it.
The report, which describes the actual situation on the ground in Rakhine state and the government's systematic program and readiness to conduct the repatriation work, is planned to be submitted to ASEAN Summit in June this year.
The survey report's recommendations will be jointly implemented and a more complete assessment will be made when the repatriation begins, said Lim Jock Hoi.
Meanwhile, socio-economic development works have been implemented by the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine state, led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Following the meeting, Aung San Suu Kyi met with Lim Jock Hoi and the pair exchanged views on the recent development in Rakhine state and on the areas of collaboration between Myanmar and ASEAN in resolving the humanitarian situation as well as the outcome and implementation of the recommendations of preliminary need assessment conducted by the ASEAN ERAT.
Myanmar announced its readiness to welcome back the first batch of 2,261 displaced people from Bangladesh on Nov. 15 last year but no one returned on the designated day due to various reasons.
However, Myanmar pledged to work on repatriation, resettlement and reintegration processes in accordance with the bilateral agreement on physical arrangement between Myanmar and Bangladesh, called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to continue assisting the government's repatriation process for those who really want to return back to Rakhine state.
Myanmar has also been inviting cooperation from home and the international community to help it rebuild and resettle the conflict-torn state.
Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in August 2018 for early repatriation of the displaced persons fleeing Rakhine to Bangladesh.
On June 6, 2018, Myanmar also signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the UNHCR on assisting Myanmar government's repatriation process.
The Myanmar government has assured the displaced persons of voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation in receiving the returnees.
The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), declared by Myanmar as an extremist terrorist organization, launched repeated attacks on police outposts in Rakhine state on Aug. 25, 2017, displacing a vast number of residents to areas bordering Bangladesh.
