Malaysia’s Government will repatriate 1,200 Myanmar migrants next week despite a military coup in their home country, but has assured that they will not include minority Muslim Rohingya refugees or those registered with the UN refugee agency. But the UN High Commissioner for Refugees voiced concern Tuesday that there may be vulnerable women and children among the group. Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was detained as the military seized power on February 1, sparking protests in the country.
Malaysia’s immigration chief, Khairul Dzaimee Daud, said in a statement late Monday that the detainees will be deported February 23 on Myanmar navy ships.