A/HRC/42/CRP.5 organizations who documented Bangladesh government forces beating and intimidating refugees into returning to Myanmar.449 2. Current repatriation efforts 206. In October 2018, in an announcement reminiscent of past statements leading to premature repatriation, following the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on repatriation, Bangladesh and Myanmar announced that the repatriation of refugees would start by mid-November 2018.450 A total of 485 families consisting of over 2,000 people were identified for the repatriation.451 207. On 13 and 14 November 2018, at the request of the Government of Bangladesh, UNHCR undertook an “assessment of voluntary return intentions of refugees”. 452 The assessment was conducted with the families approved for return by Myanmar. 453 UNHCR concluded that none of the refugees consulted expressed willingness to return to Myanmar.454 UNHCR, OHCHR and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar also noted that conditions were not conducive for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees to Rakhine State, warning that the return could put the lives and freedoms of returnees at serious risk.455 In an extreme demonstration of their resistance to forced repatriation, several refugees threatened suicide and two elderly men attempted to take their life.456 Additionally, most of the individuals who Myanmar identified as potential returnees reportedly went into hiding.457 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar also held a demonstration opposing the planned repatriation, chanting “We won't go back”.458 Bangladesh decided to halt the repatriation programme, emphasising that it was committed to the principle of non-refoulement and voluntary repatriation.459 208. The fourth meeting of the Joint Working Group on repatriation took place in May 2019, where no agreement was reached in terms of timelines for return. Instead, the Bangladesh delegation proposed that Myanmar “send a team to interact with the Rohingya and persuade them to return to their homes after creating a favourable condition for safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation”.460 On 27 July 2019, a Myanmar Government delegation, consisting of 19 members led by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Myint Thu, visited Cox’s Bazar and held discussion with refugees on possible return. During the meeting, refugees insisted on citizenship and freedom of movement as preconditions for their return.461 Bangladesh continued to position itself in support of repatriation only upon appropriate conditions being put in place for voluntary, 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 66 Human Rights Watch, The Rohingya Muslims: Ending a Cycle of Exodus? vol.8, no.8, September 1996. Bangladesh, Myanmar to begin repatriating Rohingya in November, 30 October 2018. Human Rights Watch, Bangladesh halt Rohingya Repatriation, 15 November 2018; Refwrold, Rohingya repatriation fails amid protests, 15 Novemeber 2018. UNHCR, Operation Update, available from https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66951. Ibid. Ibid. UNHCR, Statement by UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, available from https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2018/11/5be7c4b64/statement-un-high-commissioner-refugeesrepatriation-rohingya-refugees.html, OHCHR, Bachelet: Returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar would place them at serious risk of human rights violations, 13 November 2018; OHCHR, Myanmar: UN expert pleads for Rohingya returns to stop, fears repeat abuses may await, 6 November 2018. United Nations, Terror and panic among Rohingya who may be forced to return to Myanmar – UN rights chief, 13 November 2018. Burma Human Rights Network, NVC a barrier to Rohingya repatriation, 11 July 2019. Refworld, Rohingya repatriation fails amid protests, 15 Novemeber 2018. The Guardian, Bangladesh admits no Rohingya willing to take repatriation offer, 15 Novemeber 2018. Dhaka Tribune, Rohingya repatriation: 4th JWG meeting in Naypyidaw ends without any breakthrough, 3 May 2019. The Daily State, Myanmar team visit Rohingya camps in Ukhia, 27 July 2019; Voice of America, Myanmar delegation holds repatriation talks with Rohingya in Bangladesh, 27 July 2019.