Dr Chris James

https://www.facebook.com/drchris.james/videos/394898703713304

Kidnapping for ransom is a growing threat to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar. Victims are often abducted, their hands and feet tightly bound, and their families sent threatening photos or videos demanding unaffordable ransom. Failure to pay leads to severe harm or death threats. These crimes thrive due to poor camp security and fear of retaliation, leaving refugees trapped in fear. Anon.

Ayub (34), a father of four daughters from Camp-3, Block-C38, Kutapalong, Refugee Camp, Bangladesh was kidnapped last week by local terrorists from Shamlapoor. As a daily worker, he struggled to make ends meet, and his family was unable to meet the ransom demand of 8 lakh set by the kidnappers.

Tragically, Ayub was found dead, his body brutally restrained with chains on his hands and legs. This heartbreaking loss highlights the lack of security and protection for vulnerable individuals in refugee camps and nearby areas. His life, like so many others, was stolen by the violence that continues to plague the Rohingya community.

Nothing to say, but just a question.

Do you know whose world this is, that it allows such cruelty to persist? Whose world is this, where the innocent are left to die, and justice remains a distant dream? I wonder if this world belongs to those who dare to watch the Rohingya die this way. Those who choose silence over action.

  Text by a refugee. Anon.

Author: Md. Rahim Ullah
You can reach @ author: rahimiiuc2014@yahoo.com
Co-author: Mohammed Imran
imran.rrsa@gmail.com

The position of the Rohingya is both tragic and complex. Having lived in Myanmar for hundreds of
years, they are now denied citizenship there, having been constitutionally stripped of it in 1982 by the
Myanmar government. Over a million have fled from severe violence over the border to Bangladesh
and now remain confined there in refugee camps where they must rely on international humanitarian
aid to survive. And now this aid is diminishing.
Bangladesh is a poor nation, and therefore cannot assimilate and grant the Rohingya citizenship when
there are not jobs enough for its own. And there are significant challenges for them in terms of justice
and legal protections.
Role of Courts:
1) Limited Legal Status:
Their undocumented status limits the Rohingya access to legal rights, including the right to seek justice
through the Bangladeshi courts. The legal system often doesn’t apply to them in the same way it does to
Bangladeshi citizens.
2) Restricted Access to Courts:
Because the Rohingya are not citizens, they often cannot file legal complaints or seek justice in the
regular courts without prior permission of the assigned Camp in Charge (CiC). Legal procedures are
usually tailored for citizens while Rohingyas face such barriers as language, lack of identification,
insufficient legal representation, and discrimination as refugees and Forceful Displaced Myanmar
Nationals (FDMN).
3) Injustice in the System:
There have been reports of Rohingyas facing injustice when they try to access legal remedies. For
example, they may not receive fair trials, and there are instances of corruption or discrimination that
prevent them from getting a fair hearing. Without recognized legal status, there’s little accountability
for perpetrators of crimes against Rohingyas, including exploitation, abuse, or human trafficking.
Roles of Police Stations:
1) Extrajudicial mode of law by law enforcing agencies perversion:
The extrajudicial mode of law enforcement agencies and Perversion attitude and individual negative
perception of refugees often deter refugees from getting fair justice from the judicial system. Police
intimidate and bully refugees in the course of justice. Refugees face constant discrimination and
challenges due to negative narratives established by the local and international media.
2) Police Reluctance to Intervene:
Police stations in Bangladesh often face challenges when it comes to dealing with Rohingya refugees
and FDMN. Many police officers view them as “foreigners” and may not be motivated to address crimes
committed against them. In some cases, there’s a lack of training or resources to understand the
complexities of refugee laws and human rights.
3) Lack of Protection:
Rohingya refugees are often vulnerable to violence, trafficking, and exploitation. While the police
should theoretically offer protection, in practice, many Rohingya are subjected to abuse by local
authorities or lack adequate police protection. Reports of police involvement in human-trafficking rings
or exploitation within refugee camps have also surfaced.
4) Systemic Corruption and Inaction:
In some areas, local police may be corrupt or involved in illegal activities, such as extortion, bribery, or
supporting criminal groups that prey on vulnerable refugees and FDMN. This systemic corruption
weakens the ability of the justice system to function properly and denies Rohingya any real protection
or justice.
CHALLENGES TO JUSTICE:
Political Pressure and lack of willingness:
The Bangladeshi government faces significant pressure, both domestically and internationally,
regarding the Rohingya crisis. While Bangladesh has shown hospitality, it also has its own socio-
political challenges, including concerns about national security, resource allocation, and public
sentiment about the Rohingya presence. These pressures may result in a lack of will to invest in
improving the justice system for the Rohingya.
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING JUSTICE FOR THE ROHINGYA:
Recognition of Legal Status:
One key step would be to grant Rohingyas a clearer legal status, such as refugee or temporary protected
status, which could afford them basic legal rights and access to courts. This would allow them to seek
justice more effectively, even if that means temporary measures until a longer-term solution is found.
Strengthening Police Training:
Police forces in areas with large Rohingya populations need to be trained to understand the unique
challenges refugees face, and how to protect them. This includes providing proper protection from
exploitation, human trafficking, and other crimes.
Community Engagement and Support:
Establishing community-support systems, including NGOs, legal-aid services, and local leadership, can
help ensure that Rohingyas know their rights and how to assert them. It can also act as a check against
abuse by authorities or other actors.
Ensure Accountability:
Bangladesh government should coordinate and monitor local authorities to improve the protection of
Rohingyas in the camps. Accountability measures, whether through international agencies or local
authorities, can ensure fair justice conditions for Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
Lack of Policies in Bangladesh for Refugees:
Bangladesh is not a signatory country to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1967 Protocol and other
international instruments relating to the refugees. And Bangladesh doesn’t have national-level policies
to handle and cope with refugee laws that bar Rohingyas from getting justice in Bangladesh. There is
no transparency and accountability in camps for crimes committed by police, arms groups and
perpetrators, and the victims wind up victimized. The government should adopt laws, rules and
ordinances to protect refugees in the country.
In conclusion, the lack of justice for the Rohingya community in Bangladesh stems from a combination
of legal-status issues, systemic corruption, and international neglect. To achieve meaningful change, it
will require a multifaceted approach, including legal reforms, better protection from authorities, and
international cooperation to address the root causes of judicial system for refugees living in the camps.
The Bangladeshi government should focus on fair Rohingya representation before the judges, police
and relevant stakeholders during their stay in Bangladesh.

Address your letter to UNHCR, date it and send it to : P.O. Box 3474, 1000 Dhaka, Bangladesh;

Your letter should contain the following:

Your name.

Your date of birth.

Your country and village/city/town.

Your family members.

Ages of every one in your family.

The health status of everyone in your family.

Your refugee status.

Your document details. (Copies)

Your camp details.

Any special needs.

Any disability that prevents you from working.

Medical records.

Who in your family is available for work?

When you arrived in the camp.

Your occupation before leaving the homeland.

Any work carried out in the camp.

Your school/education record.

Age you left school, college university.

Your employment qualifications.

Your education (and any courses you have completed in the camp).

Tell the story of your escape. When? How? Why?

Explain your life in the camp.

Explain why you think you should be given resettlement.

Detail any extenuating circumstances, i.e., poor health, medical needs,

your life is in danger.

What do you hope to achieve in another country?

Which country would you like to settle in (you may not get a choice).

UNHCH resettles on the basis of the most urgent needs of refugees.

What are your most urgent needs?

Life as a Human Rights Worker. 

I engage online with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the world’s largest refugee camp, and I have been doing so for roughly five years.  My experience in this profession has given me joy and sorrow, it has tested my patience and my ability to suppress frustrations, but most of all it has provided me with a deeper insight into the impacts of wars, genocides and the immense suffering of innocent people. It has also offered me a meaningful way to contribute to refugee well-being and survival and to enjoy the company of some wonderful refugee friends.

My task is to improve the lives of refugees who, when they arrive in the camps, are always in a very poor condition, both mentally and physically.   Many are physically injured; most are mentally scared.

I am a retired psychotherapist and I work with refugees by building capacity, or what might also be termed social capital. This means, I assist the refugees in creating their own systems of support within their communities.  This can include teaching English, correcting and collating documents as well as trauma counselling.

Not everything in the camp is bad, with the right assistance refugees are able to support each other. People need purpose to survive and the refugees have good survival skills, better than most. For example, the Bangladesh refugee camp has some of the world’s best photo-journalists. Many of the refugees are great poets, story writers and artists. Others create vegetable gardens to supplement the limited rations they receive.  Some refugees sell their produce on the streets and some cook foods to sell in the camp markets. Some refugees make crafts and hold exhibitions.

Generally, the refugees organise themselves into small working groups around an elected leader.  Most come from small villages so many refugees know each other and their various capabilities. Many bonds are already established, which helps.

The small groups then join with other groups for larger projects, such as sport, exhibitions and/or organising big events for international visitors.

The Rohingya , who come from Myanmar, are considered to be the world’s most persecuted people and they receive the least amount of assistance from the international community. The Rohingya have experienced more than 70+ years of genocide and the wars are continuing.

I am always amazed at the strength of the refugee people who have witnessed the most horrific scenes, lost numerous friends and relatives, and who have found the will to survive and to help their fellow victims.

The images are horrific, and in my view, they have to be confronted.  They are the evidence for proceedings in the International Criminal Courts (ICC), and they are the truth of what is happening to the Rohingya people on a daily basis.

The international community is largely silent on these horrendous genocidal events.  We get only minimal media attention or support from the world at large.

The work of gathering evidence for prosecution is frequently done by the human rights workers so we cannot avoid the ugly scenes and we have a duty to inform the public where possible.

In every aspect of life there are sad moments and beautiful ones, the birth of a child, a wedding, a birthday celebration or a graduation from some important form of learning and personal growth.

It is important that the ugly realities get balanced with the positive ones. It is not possible to hide the truth or the pain, but we can, and must match it with the joyful occasions.

It is also crucial to inform the world of what life is like in the refugee’s confines.  Too many people think it will not happen to them so they turn away. Tax payers pay for the camps, they need to be informed and they need to shoulder some of the responsibility and remain informed. We must all, as responsible human beings, work towards closing the camps, not expanding them. They are cruel and ineffective places.

We call the refugee facilities camps, but in reality, they are prison camps. There is no freedom of movement and there are no prescribed rights or protocols. Bangladesh (and many other countries) are not party to the Refugee Convention so they are not held accountable for abuses.

In many instances the refugees are not wanted and the host communities can be hostile and belligerent towards the refugees. Added to this, the camps are for containment, they are not designed to assist the inhabitants (the NGOs do that).  Refugee camps are meant to keep the refugees separate from the host community. The Rohingya share close cultural ties with the Bangladesh people, but they are forbidden to learn the language or the Bangladesh culture.

There are some exceptions where refugees are permitted to leave camps and work among the nation’s population, but they are rare and frequently open to corruption.

Refugee camps are oppressive, inefficient and expensive to run. They deny people the right to work for a living, children are not educated, there are insufficient medical facilities. The mortality rate is higher than that in the poorest of countries.   Most refugees have insufficient food for good health. There is no family planning so there are more children in the camps than there are adults.

The Rohingya refugees have no freedom of movement. No free speech. No education.  No rights.  They are continually persecuted and treated as unwanted illegals when no refugee is illegal under International Law.

Dr Chris James

Children among the 200 killed in the Myanmar drone attack. 22.08.24

A Rohingya reporter called Mr Saiful couldn’t control his tears when asked how he survived  the Rohingya genocide.  His five family members were killed and raped by the terrorist group AA (Arakan Army). There are many families who were killed by AA, but no government appears willing to step up to condemn the atrocities.   The media will only report what they are told to.  Who will help the Rohingya after 70+ years of genocide.?