Indonesian and Bangladesh FMs visit Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh

By The Stateless Rohingya

The visit comes a day after meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon and demolitions of new Rohingya refugees’ huts in Cox’s Bazar

Cox’s Bazar – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi made visit to Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camp, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar on December 20, 2016.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister was accompanied by her counterpart Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmod Ali arrived at Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar with helicopter at 11:00 am local time.

Fifteen minutes later, they entered the camp visiting various blocks until 12:00 pm where they observed the situations of Rohingya refugees as they talked to refugees.

The other members of representatives were Deputy Foreign Minister Shariar Alam, Foreign Secretary Shohidul Hoque, Deputy Commissioner Mohamad Ali Hussain, Superintendent of Police Shemal Kumar Das, Member of Parliament Abdur Rahman Bodi.

Some of the refugee leaders raised the chronic issues that Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong camp face since arriving in Bangladesh after the Myanmar military regime launched “Operation Clean Nations” against the persecuted Rohingya minority in Arakan (Rakhine) State in 1991-92.

There is continuous influx of Rohingya since the start of clearance operations in Maungdaw on October 9, which has so far forced more than 27,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh despite the border is in lockdown, many of them recount the horrible human rights abuses – mass rapes, summary killings, arbitrary arrests and destructions of houses and villages, being committed by the Myanmar armed forces.

It is learnt that both the foreign ministers hold a meeting in Dhaka today over the ongoing Rohingya issues in search of durable solutions and the Indonesian Foreign Minister is expected to meet with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tonight.

The visit of Ms. Retno comes a day after attending ASEAN foreign ministers talks in Yangon where the situations of Rohingya were briefed and also a day after the demolition of more than 120 temporary huts built by the new Rohingya refugees who recently fled Maungdaw township.