Myanmar refugees

Junta officials are visiting refugee camps in order to verify those who have been shortlisted for repatriation under a China-mediated pilot program.

The Malaysian leader claimed that 200,000 Myanmar nationals have now sought refuge in his country.

Amnesty International Malaysia said that the action "exposes the government’s hypocrisy in policy and practice.”

The recent arrival of civilians fleeing Myanmar's conflict has highlighted a serious shortcoming in the Thai government's approach to refugees.

Despite the sizeable numbers of refugees from Myanmar within Asia, the overall protection environment remains flimsy. 

"I don’t know about my future. How about you? Do you know your future?"

Rights groups have protested the decision, which they say could expose a group of 114 people to mistreatment on their return.

The reported deportations seem to contradict Kuala Lumpur's active approach to resolving the crisis in Myanmar.

Violent clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army in the Chin state early this month triggered the exodus.

A Thailand-based NGO claims that Thai police have detained nearly 20,000 people trying to cross the border in the last five months alone.

The tragedy is a reminder of the unresolved Rohingya refugee crisis that has been largely eclipsed by the country's post-coup conflict.

The exodus follows a series of brutal military reprisal killings in Chin State's Matupi Township.