Two senior-level Bangladesh ministers have backed New Delhi’s stand on Rohingyas, adding that the influx of refugees from Myanmar poses a big “threat” to internal security.
Speaking to Times Now, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan agreed that it is a humanitarian crisis, but also highlighted that there may be ways via which Pakistan and ISIS may try to radicalise these refugees.
“We are extra vigilant and we will not let our land being used for terrorism. They are desperate people and can do anything. This genocide might have received outside support from foreign hands (ISI),” he said.
“Pakistan and IS are far from Bangladesh but they might try to reach to these Rohingyas via others. Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) or Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) might play foul. “They have even killed our people. We are determined that terrorism won’t be tolerated. The International community should come together,” he added.
Speaking on the same issue, Bangladesh’s Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu highlighted how it is becoming a massive challenge for their government. He said, “It’s a big challenge. They will have to be repatriated. The Myanmar govt had sent an emissary to Bangladesh and their govt has acknowledged that Myanmar people have indeed crossed over and have entered into Bangladesh,” he added.
He, too, was of the view that Rohingyas could become a security threat to the nation, thus the Bangladesh government is registering them.
“If they are not repatriated then we have to send them to some island on the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is pursuing zero tolerance towards terrorists,” Inu said.
Stating that Pakistan has a history of harbouring terrorists, he said Dhaka is worried about that the former would attempt radicalising the refugees.
“If we have doubts on anyone we detain them. We aren't taking any chances,” he said.
The Indian government recently filed its response to the rejoinder affidavit of Rohingya immigrants Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, who have filed the PIL alleging they had faced persecution in Myanmar and were forced to flee.
The Centre told the SC that Illegal immigrants cannot claim fundamental rights which are otherwise available even to non-citizens, in its fresh response to the PIL of two Rohingya refugees challenging their deportation to Myanmar.
In the fresh surrejoinder (a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's rejoinder), the government submitted that though it was "fully conscious, aware and responsible for its obligations emanating from various international instruments", but certain views expressed by Indian representatives and the contentions, based on "declarations/resolutions/international instruments" were devoid of merits.
"As a sovereign State, India will always honour such obligations which are binding obligations. Having said that, it is reiterated that India is not a signatory to United Nation Convention of 1951 and the Protocol of 1967 issued thereunder.
"The said Convention/Protocol is, therefore, not binding upon India and no other Declaration/Resolution/Convention/international treaty or instrument of any kind is in force which prohibits India, as a sovereign nation, to exercise its right of deporting illegal immigrants in accordance with laws of India and thereby protecting the fundamental rights of its own citizens more particularly in the interest of national security," the Centre said.
Meanwhile, the apex court today fixed a batch of pleas on Rohingya issue for hearing on October 13 and asked the Centre and others to file documents including international conventions for its assistance.
The rejoinder affidavit of the Ministry of Home Affairs also said there was no binding legal obligation on India with respect of non-refoulment flowing from any binding international instrument. Non-refoulement means the practice of not forcing refugees or asylum seekers to return to a country where they are liable to be subjected to persecution.
"I submit that the illegal immigrants would not get and cannot claim any of the fundamental rights which are otherwise available to non-citizens as the term "non-citizens" would necessarily mean persons, not citizens of India, are in India on a valid travel document," Mukesh Mittal, Joint Secretary (Foreigners) with the MHA told the court.
"The framers of the Constitution of India would not have envisaged a situation where thousands and thousands of people would be flowing into this country entering illegally without any valid travel documents and start claiming fundamental rights as non-citizens," he added.
Earlier, the Centre had termed Rohingya refugees as "illegal" immigrants and said that some of them were part of a "sinister" design of Pakistan's ISI and terror groups such as the ISIS, whose presence in the country will pose a "serious" national security threat.
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