India Rejects UN Experts’ Condemnation of Deportation of Rohingyas

File image of Rohingya refugees.

(Photo: Reuters)

India on Thursday, 5 April, rejected criticism by UN human rights experts of its decision to deport three Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, saying the action was taken in accordance with law.

The Office of the High Commissioner (OCHR) of the UN Human Rights on Tuesday said that their experts condemned India’s decision to deport three more Rohingyas to Myanmar and urged the authorities to stop such “forced deportations” which are prohibited under international law.

"The interpretation made of the facts of the case, as portrayed in the statement, are misleading and incorrect. The repatriation of illegal immigrants to their country of origin is in accordance with Indian laws," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

He was responding to a question on the issue at a weekly media briefing. "These actions are being taken in response to the instructions of India's courts, which have required government at the State and Union levels to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants," said Kumar.

“In this sense, the government will continue to take actions as may be necessary in implementation of Indian laws, and as directed by our judiciary,” he added.

UN Had Criticised Deporting of 3 Rohingyas

Earlier, on 2 April, UN human rights experts had condemned the government’s decision to ‘deport three Rohingyas’.

“The three Rohingyas deported, a father and his children, had been imprisoned since 2013, on charges related to lack of documentation. On 3 January 2019, India separated and forcibly returned five other members of their family to Myanmar,” the statement issued by OCHR of the UN Human Rights, said.

The experts of UN Human Rights also expressed concern over deportation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, “where they face high risk of attacks, reprisals and other forms of persecution because of their ethnic and religious identity".

“We also remain concerned with the systemic use of indefinite detention of Rohingya in India,” the statement also said.