Ready to go home with dignity: Rohingyas

After the deportation of seven illegal immigrants from Myanmar to their own country alarm bells has started ringing for thousands of other Rohingya Muslims camping in different parts of Jammu.

The Rohingya Muslims have also requested all those opposed to their stay in Jammu to influence Myanmar government to extend equal rights to them and recall them to their homeland.

At last count, more than 6500 Rohingyas were settled across 39 locations spread across five districts of Jammu and Kashmir. However, various socio-politico organisations are not convinced with this figure.

They alleged various state government agencies have deliberately underreported their presence in the state as they have been rehabilitated with the tacit understanding of powers be at the helm of affairs in the last one decade.

Several hundred Rohingyas have been living here for more than one decade and have made a good fortune by labouring hard.

Scared and ignorant these illegal immigrants are running the risk of getting embroiled in fresh controversy in the backdrop of mounting pressure to deport them as their unchecked presence around vital security installations pose a grave security threat.

In the absence of any support group, they are now finding it difficult to cope up with the daily pressure of ensuring the safety of their family members.

Local police authorities are also on their trail and documenting their credentials to prepare a fresh database on the directions of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

To prevent any fresh flare-up these Rohingyas are also exploring the option of returning home to start their lives afresh.

These illegal immigrants say, “we are scared. We cannot face more torture. We are ready to go home or to any other third country which is willing to rehabilitate us”.

These Rohingya Muslims have even made a passionate appeal to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to organise their safe return to their homeland in Myanmar.

The Rohingya Muslims have also requested all those opposed to their stay in Jammu to influence Myanmar government to extend equal rights to them and recall them to their homeland.

We appeal to PM Modi to ensure our safety and security in our country: Rohingyas

One of the senior Burmese national Kifayat Ullah said, “we came here as guests. We cannot stay permanently at any place. We too wish to return home. We are only looking for our safety and want that all our fundamental rights should be restored. We appeal to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to approach his counterparts in Myanmar and facilitate our return journey. “We would not take much time to return home if our basic rights are restored and safety is guaranteed”.

We are ready to go to our own country if we are given protection and basic rights to lead normal lives

He said everybody in India is aware when we were persecuted and targeted by the government forces in Myanmar we took shelter here in India.

He said India is a great country and we appeal to the Indian Prime Minister if he cannot ensure our safe return then he should rehabilitate us at one place and provide us with humanitarian aid.

“We shall be grateful and abide by rule of law“. He said thirdly if any other country is willing to give us shelter arrangements should be made so that we can be rehabilitated there.

He said, “we are aware that dirty politics is being played out with regard to our stay here in Jammu”.

He said for all these years no one raised a voice and we were living peacefully. No one ever penalised us or ill-treated us but for past more than one year there is a sinister design behind deporting us. He said if Indian Prime Minister will make sincere efforts we can be rehabilitated.

Mohd Shafiq, head of Madrassa Raiaz Ul Uloom Tahfaz Ul Quran Muhajreen, Narwal Bala said, “if some of these Rohingya Muslims are involved in criminal cases we support strict action as per law against them but all of us should not be penalised and punished”.

He said only the government had the authority to decide our fate. Let them take a final call. If they will organise our return journey to our homeland in Myanmar we will go home and we will be really thankful for this gesture”.

Maulana Oli Ollah, teaching here at Madrassa Tul Mahjreen, Sunjwan appealed to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to democratically elected leaders in Myanmar to facilitate their early return.

“We also want to enjoy our freedom and live peacefully like all other communities”.

“We are ready to go to our own country if we are given protection and basic rights to lead normal lives”.

“We shall be grateful to the Indian Prime Minister if he can facilitate our safe journey back home”.

“Abdul Gafoor, staying in Jammu for almost nine years said, “I want to thank Government of India for supporting us and allowing us to stay here all these years”.

Another Burmese national Mohd Isar said, “if the Indian government is ready to take our responsibility and organise our return journey we will immediately return home”.

Mohd Isar is camping in Jammu for over nine years. He mostly spends his time in settling marital disputes, financial matters and other local disputes of Rohingya families.

Sharing his concerns Mohd Isar said, ” in Burma, we have seen bloodshed and witnessed atrocities on our women and children. We cannot afford to face more violence unleashed on us”. He was surprised when all these years we were staying here peacefully how this campaign started to deport us from this place.

He said for last over 1 year the situation here in Jammu is volatile. “We are not feeling safe. People are demanding our ouster and want to deport us as they feel threatened”. He said, “we too are feeling scared in these circumstances. We do not want to loose our children again. We are ready to go home”.

Hafiz Haroon while sharing the same sentiments said, “I am willing to return home and reunite with my parents. I only appeal to the Indian Prime Minister to talk to leaders in Myanmar and facilitate our safe journey”. Haroon said, “we also want to live in our own country freely and enjoy the basic rights of a citizen.

Olia Ahmed, staying in Jammu for over 9 years said, “I am tired of listening to these slogans and attack threats. I will not stay here if there is no safety and security for my family”.

“I will return home and cultivate my agricultural land which was taken away by the government forces before dragging us out of Myanmar”.

He alleged state forces in Myanmar had brought people from Bangladesh to stay in Myanmar and thrown us out of our ancestral land. “After spending nine long years I am not feeling safe here too. I will return home if the Government of India and the Indian Prime Minister will facilitate our journey”.

“Abdul Gafoor, staying in Jammu for almost nine years said, “I want to thank Government of India for supporting us and allowing us to stay here all these years”.

He said now we expect the Government of India to get in touch with the Government in Myanmar and negotiate on our behalf so that we can return home and all our basic rights are restored.

Note:

1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.