More than 1,400 Myanmar nationals returned from Malaysia by naval vessels have been taken to temporary holding facilities in Yangon, but Rakhine men among the returnees have not been released, according to family members.
Three Myanmar Navy vessels carrying 1,476 returnees arrived at the naval base at Thilawa port in Yangon at around 5:30am on October 4. The returnees were then transferred to monasteries and temporary detention facilities in Hlaing Tharyar Township for immigration and health checks.
According to Khit Thit Media, most of those still being held in Hlaing Tharyar are returnees from Rakhine State and Ayeyarwady Region. While many returnees from Ayeyarwady have reportedly been released to their families, Rakhine men remain in custody.
Families said those detained in Hlaing Tharyar have not been allowed to meet relatives or make phone calls, leaving them without information about their whereabouts and condition.
The continued detention has raised fears among relatives that the men could face further questioning or be forcibly recruited into military service. Families also said they had not been given a clear explanation for why Rakhine returnees were being treated differently from other people brought back from Malaysia.
One relative told Khit Thit Media that no Rakhine detainees had been released as of October 5, adding that many families were still unable to contact their relatives.
The first group included mostly men, along with 27 children and 79 women. They are the first of about 5,000 Myanmar nationals expected to be returned from Malaysia.
The Malaysian government has said the returns involve Myanmar nationals who have completed prison or detention sentences as well as those who agreed to return voluntarily.
However, the continued detention of Rakhine men after their return has raised concerns among their families over their safety, legal status and what may happen to them next. No official explanation has so far been made public on why the Rakhine returnees remain in custody.
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