Evidence of meeting #129 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rohingya.
A video is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
Yes, I think so. Absolutely.
Until Burma has given us full citizenship or safety, and until international peacekeeping forces or other international governments are there, we must denounce it because there will be another genocide, as my colleague said.
November 22nd, 2018 / 1:50 p.m.
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West—Nepean, Lib.)
Thank you very much.
I'm going to go to very quick questions, 30 seconds each.
I'll start with Mr. Sweet.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
Do our witnesses have anything else they'd like to submit in writing?
I'd like to know, in particular, whether they're aware of any kind of network developing within the Rohingya community as far as the leadership is concerned, so that when successful repatriation happens, there would be a structure developed for policing, government, etc.
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West—Nepean, Lib.)
I'll let Mr. Fragiskatos have a very quick 30 seconds as well.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to all of you, from London, Ontario. We have an emerging Rohingya community, and your heroic advocacy matches theirs. I just wanted to put that on the record.
The Guardian newspaper wrote an editorial just a few weeks ago, saying the following:
The Rohingya must have the right to return home. But they must be able to do so safely and of their own volition. That is not the case now. Until that time comes, Bangladesh must be given all the support it needs to host them; and forced repatriations must be opposed as unconscionable and unacceptable.
Do you agree with that point of view?
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West—Nepean, Lib.)
We have about five minutes. There have been a number of questions, and some that you didn't get to, so I'm going to allow those of you who really want to answer any of the questions you didn't get to answer, and have something really significant to say in those five minutes, to be very succinct. I'll give you the opportunity to do that, including Mr. Maung, who is on video conference.
Who would like to go first?
Director, Rohingya Association of Canada
I can start, sir. Are you talking about Mr. Garnett Genuis's article?
Liberal
Director, Rohingya Association of Canada
I misheard. I thought you said “Garnett”.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Oh, no, I said “Guardian”. I like Garnett Genuis and everything, but it's The Guardian.
Director, Rohingya Association of Canada
Regarding repatriation and the policing force that Mr. Sweet talked about, etc., we have to be very clear that we are not talking about repatriating into a different nation that belongs to the Rohingya. We are indigenous to Myanmar. We are from Myanmar. Our people, the people over there at the camps, whom I lived with for one month, should be able to go back to their own homeland.
It has to be accepted by the Myanmar government: from full citizenship rights to full rights for education and work, to being treated as human beings. Madam Khalid's point on whether it's the government or the people, Zainab answered that very well.
However, wherever there are good people.... When the genocide took place, when the massacres took place, there was and there continues to be a group of mobsters who are extremist Buddhists, who are out there and who are conducting this massacre. I'll refer you to a report by Fortify Rights called “They Gave Them Long Swords”. The swords were not carried by the military. The swords were carried by the civilians who were conducting the massacre, and it's everywhere. It's the same thing in the Karen and the Kachin villages.
So until a change of situation happens on the ground, we cannot.... As Canadians, we need to gauge our actions based on how our policies impact changes on the ground in Myanmar, the attitude of the Burmese government and its entities. You see, that's the gauging point on how we have successfully given a voice for the very people who are at the camps to be able to come back to their own homeland. They're not going to be living forever in these refugee camps, in these dire conditions, but they will only return when situations on the ground change, and this is what we are asking for.
I have some of my colleagues over here. If they want to add anything, Madam Chair, will you permit?
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West—Nepean, Lib.)
We would welcome written briefs. Unfortunately, time doesn't allow them to speak.
I did want to ask Mr. Maung if he has any final words, in one minute or so.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Arakan Institute for Peace and Development
Yes, Madam Chair, thank you.
As I mentioned in my opening statement, at this time it is not safe for the Rohingya to be repatriated, because the Myanmar government has not shown anything to suggest that it will ensure the security and safety of the people, and the Myanmar government is still accusing the Rohingya of being illegal immigrants. One the one hand, they are saying to the media that they are ready for repatriation, and on the other, they are encouraging the local people who are opposing repatriation of the Rohingya and resettlement on their ancestral lands.
So in this limbo, if the Rohingya are willing to go back, the situation will not be different from the situation in 1978 and 1994. During those repatriations, the Myanmar government promised a lot, but nothing was implemented. Now, we cannot see anything concrete to show that Myanmar will take measures to reintegrate these people again on their own land, to grant or to restore the Rohingya's civil rights.
Thank you.
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West—Nepean, Lib.)
Okay, thank you.
I want to thank all of you for being here and for your very compelling, very informative testimony. We will be having another session on this one week from today, on the 29th. For those who are interested, those who are watching on television, we'll have one more hour to discuss this issue.
Thanks to those who came from far away.
Just before we adjourn, I want to remind the committee that next Tuesday morning, the 27th, at 8:30, KAIROS' Women of Courage is going to be bringing women human rights defenders for a breakfast. That is women from South Sudan, Palestine, Congo, Colombia and the Philippines. The invitation has been distributed to all of you, and I hope that you'll be able to attend that breakfast.
Once again, thank you very much to our witnesses.
The meeting is adjourned.