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| Protesters condemning a military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar on the 20th (local time) are undergoing medical treatment for a head injured by military police assault. © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Dongmyeong Woo |
While the Malaysian government disregarded the court’s order and expelled the citizens of Myanmar in their country, Western countries such as the European Union (EU) and the United States expressed concern.
On the 25th (local time), Reuters reported that the Malaysian government sent 1,086 Myanmar citizens back to the 3rd naval ship sent by the Myanmar military on the 23rd.
According to human rights groups, among those who were deported were those seeking asylum from the Myanmar coup.
Earlier, a Malaysian court ordered the government to halt plans to deport Myanmar citizens.
In an interview with Reuters, an EU spokesman told Reuters, “We had expected the Malaysian government to respect the court’s order,” he said. “We are deeply sorry for the Malaysian government’s decision to ignore this and not follow the principle of non-refoulement under international law.”
US State Department spokesman Ned Price on the 24th called for countries around Myanmar to stop repatriation.
According to Reuters, Western countries, including the United States and the EU, are persuading the Malaysian government to continue forcibly repatriating in the future and urged UNHCR to interview residents.
Meanwhile, Reuters, citing an anonymous reporter, said the Malaysian government’s move could be a signal to send a message that Malaysia acknowledges the military coup in Myanmar.