Myanmar navy receives three vessels carrying repatriated detainees from Malaysia
Three Myanmar naval ships took custody of 1,476 detainees transferred from Malaysia and are heading to a port near Yangon.
A convoy of three Myanmar naval vessels arrived with 1,476 Myanmar nationals who had been held in Malaysian immigration detention. The ships left the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut, Perak, on September 29 and reached Myanmar's territorial waters on October 1. Myanmar navy ships met and escorted the convoy to the Thilawa naval port, located roughly 25 km from Yangon.
Detainees reported relief and excitement after being told they would be released and sent back to their hometowns. The repatriation was coordinated by the Home Ministry, Immigration Department and other agencies following diplomatic talks with the Myanmar government.
Why it matters
It marks the completion of a coordinated repatriation effort for hundreds of Myanmar nationals held abroad.
How this story developed
- Sep 22 Myanmar refugees fear forced returns as Malaysia and Thailand tighten policies
- Sep 27 The one-in-one-out agreement between the UK and France expires on October 1, and France’s interior minister says it will not be renewed. Officials are now urging Britain to negotiate a wider returns arrangement with the EU.
- Sep 28 At least 33 people were killed and 36 wounded when a military airstrike hit Kyauktaw in Rakhine state, according to the Arakan Army and aid worker Wai Hun Aung.
- Sep 29 A government spokesperson did not immediately reply to inquiries about the strike.
- Sep 29 The first wave of 1,476 Myanmar nationals departed Malaysia.
- Sep 30 France announced the pilot will end at the end of October and will not be renewed.
- Oct 1 Malaysia has begun negotiations with Myanmar to obtain security guarantees for future repatriations.
In this story
Related stories
13 in this thread