Thursday, February 13, 2025
Desperate journeys, uncertain futures

Rohingya refugees in Sri Lanka

The plight of the Rohingyas continues as Sri Lanka navigates their uncertain future on the island

by damith
February 2, 2025 1:17 am 0 comment 1.8K views

By Maneshka Borham

The Rohingya are perhaps among the most persecuted people in the world today. Every week, countless Rohingya refugees escape Myanmar in perilous boat journeys, seeking refuge in lands that may offer them safety and acceptance. To date approximately one million Rohingya refugees have sought shelter in Bangladesh, while smaller groups have also found refuge in Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and even Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is currently home to approximately 200 Rohingya refugees, including 116 persons of whom 25 are children, along with pregnant mothers, all of whom were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy on December 19 last year.

Deepan

Deepan

On the day, 39-year-old Deepan, a fisherman from Mullivaikkal had been the first to spot the boat carrying the Rohingya refugees. He had been out fishing for prawns with two companions when they noticed a wooden boat adrift. The boat, much larger than an Indian trawler had piqued their curiosity.

“We initially assumed it was a vessel carrying illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka attempting to reach Australia. But as we got closer, we realised we didn’t recognise the nationality of the occupants or the language they were speaking,” he said.

Look of helplessness

But what Deepan did recognise was the look of helplessness and desperation in the eyes of the occupants. In 2009, as the three-decade-long conflict drew to a close, Deepan had been one of the many residents in Mullivaikkal in Northern Sri Lanka who made a perilous journey by sea to reach safety as fighting between the Government forces and the terror outfit Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) intensified.

“I couldn’t bear to see it. It reminded me of my own plight and the similar journey I had taken many years ago,” Deepan said.

According to Deepan, all the occupants, except for those controlling the boat appeared to be in dire condition. “They had collapsed on top of one another, many with vacant expressions. Some clutched their stomachs and repeated the words ‘hospital’ the only thing we could understand. We gave them water and food but they couldn’t keep anything down,” he said. It was later revealed the group had endured a 16-day perilous journey by sea.

While the Navy, medics and officials arrived later after being alerted by villagers, the refugees’ condition gradually improved and they were transported to Trincomalee by sea. That was the last Deepan saw of them.

Today, the group is housed at the Mullaitivu Air Force camp, where Government officials are providing them with the facilities and services. Since December 19, another infant has been born in Sri Lanka adding to the group of refugees. On December 30 a Gazette was published declaring the facility as an immigration detention centre. While access to the Rohingya refugees has been limited to outsiders, video testimonies secured by local journalist Sanjeevan Thurainayagam reveal their tragic tale.

In one video, a visibly distraught middle-aged male refugee shared that their intention was always to land in Sri Lanka. He spoke of enduring air bombardments and other atrocities in Myanmar, making the difficult decision to leave, even as some family members had to be left behind. The cost of their freedom had been 800,000 Myanmar Kyats (Rs. 59,200) per person, which they had raised by selling the few pieces of gold jewellery they had possessed. “We had to pay Government officials and another group in order to leave,” he said.

In yet another video, a female refugee dressed in a hijab explained their decision to choose Sri Lanka. “We heard the people in Sri Lanka are merciful and generous, so we decided to come here,” she said. While she expressed her gratitude to the Sri Lankan people, she urged for continued support. “You will be rewarded by God,” she added. Another called on Sri Lanka to have mercy and offer any assistance possible.

Potential deportation

As concerns over potential deportation, human trafficking, opposition to their presence and the possibility of more refugees arriving in Sri Lanka have since emerged, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has also been closely monitoring the situation and the welfare of the latest group of refugees.

In a report last week, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) raised concerns regarding the vulnerable persons among the group. During its visit to the camp, the HRCSL said it had identified several categories of vulnerable persons, including 57 children, with 17 aged between one and five years, and one three-month-old baby. Among them was a 12-year-old girl who had arrived without her parents.

The HRCSL said there was a 21-year-old pregnant woman expecting her third child, a 31-year-old breastfeeding mother who is also the mother of six children and a 47-year-old man with a disability caused by polio, affecting his right leg and left hand, who relies on a bamboo stick for mobility.

In response to these vulnerabilities and other difficulties faced by them, the HRCSL has now issued a series of recommendations to the Government. The Commission emphasizes the need to treat all persons, including asylum seekers, with dignity and respect for their rights.

The HRCSL has said that the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Sri Lanka Air Force should appoint a focal point to facilitate the prompt delivery of aid such as clothing, sanitaryware and food, especially for children and that special equipment to assist differently-abled asylum seekers should also be provided.

The HRCSL recommended that specialised institutions such as child protection experts, mental health professionals and public health officials be granted regular access to the asylum seekers to ensure that their needs are met, particularly the children’s and to provide mental health support, including trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The HRCSL has stressed the importance of allowing the UNHCR to vet and register the asylum seekers, ensuring proper international oversight.

Provisions for female asylum seekers

The Commission also highlighted the need for specific provisions for female asylum seekers, calling for trained women police officers to ensure their safety and security while they are detained. The HRCSL also recommended the transfer of the asylum seekers to a more appropriate facility equipped to meet the welfare needs of men, women and children, a point continuously raised by human rights activists in Sri Lanka.

“Asylum seekers should be registered by UNHCR without delay, and any detention should only be temporary, allowing for timely decisions regarding their status,” it added.

The HRCSL also urged Sri Lanka to ratify the 1951 Convention on Refugees, the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. By acceding to these treaties, Sri Lanka would strengthen its commitment to international norms concerning the protection of refugees and stateless persons, demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding their rights within the country’s legal framework.

Similar recommendations and calls have also emerged from Sri Lanka’s human rights groups, with many urging the Government to prioritise the safety and well-being of the refugees currently on the island. Some organisations have even organised protests, calling for the protection of the Rohingya asylum seekers and demanding that they not be deported back to Myanmar.

They said that their call is not for Sri Lanka to become a permanent destination for the refugees. While acknowledging that Sri Lanka, as a developing country is not positioned to serve as a hub for international refugees, they have emphasised the need to treat those rescued according to international standards for refugee protection. They have also called upon the Government to seek the assistance of the United Nations to identify eligible countries willing to provide refugee status and permanent resettlement to the group.

On January 23, in Parliament, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to upholding both international and national laws regarding the Rohingya refugees. However, it emphasized that investigations into their illegal status must continue. More importantly, the Government said that it has no intention of deporting the refugees, providing a sense of relief to the country’s human rights defenders.

In December, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandran visited the group and offered similar reassurances. “We affirm their right to live without facing racial discrimination. We’ve arranged safe accommodation for them, and have provided food, water, and essential health facilities to the best of our ability. It’s deeply tragic for them to lose their homes in a war and become refugees. We view this as a humanitarian issue, and we will never abandon these people.” This assurance is one that many hope the Government will uphold, as the future of the Rohingya refugees continues to hang in the balance.

Pic by Shabeer Mohamed


Who are the Rohingya?

The Rohingya are an ethnic minority group, primarily Muslim, who have historically lived in the Rakhine State of Myanmar (formerly Burma). They have their own distinct language, culture, and traditions. Despite their long presence in Myanmar, the Rohingya have been denied citizenship by the Government and are considered stateless. Their marginalisation and exclusion have led to significant human rights violations.

Why are they fleeing Myanmar?

The Rohingya are fleeing Myanmar due to systematic persecution, discrimination, and violence. In recent years, the Myanmar military has carried out brutal crackdowns on the Rohingya, including mass killings, rapes, and the burning of villages, particularly in 2017. These actions have been widely regarded as ethnic cleansing or genocide by the international community. The Rohingya have been denied basic rights such as citizenship, access to healthcare, education, and freedom of movement. As a result, many have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, and others, to escape violence, persecution, and dire living conditions.

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