A/HRC/42/CRP.5 hamlet. The lack of job, shortage of food and movement restrictions without NVC, forced me to leave my village.129 NVCs and prisoner release 79. The Government also forced NVCs on Rohingya prisoners as a condition of release, through threats and other forms of coercion.130 Individuals refusing to receive the document were at risk of indefinite arbitrary detention.131 A prisoner told the Mission: “I was handed a NVC on the day of my release. When I objected, I was told that I should either take a NVC or spend my entire life in prison.”132 Without asking Rohingya prisoners if they wanted to receive the cards, immigration officers made the prisoners accept the cards by forcing the prisoners to sign, electronically or on paper, and to have identity photos taken inside the prison.133 During this process, prisoners were not allowed to ask questions and were reminded that they were “Bengali”. The cards were prepared in advance and handed over to prisoners on the day of their release. Additionally, Rohingya prisoners had to pay 10,000 Kyat (7 USD) to receive the card. Prisoners from other ethnic communities were not issued NVCs.134 80. A Rohingya man, who was released from Buthidaung prison in late 2018, after having served for 44 months, stated: Prior to my release, prison officials issued me a NVC against my will. They forced me to accept the document. Prison officials threatened that they would keep me in prison for an indefinite period if I refused. My release was strictly conditional upon NVC and I knew refusal to accept would mean additional suffering inside the prison. I had no option but to give in and accept NVC card. 135 81. Authorities also required Rohingya family members to present a NVC to be able to visit relatives in detention. Individuals unwilling or unable to produce a NVC could not visit family throughout the course of their detention.136 82. As an indication of what a repatriation process might include for the thousands of displaced Rohingya, authorities forced NVCs on Rohingya who were returned to Myanmar from India in October 2018 and January 2019.137 In its preliminary needs assessment for repatriation in Rakhine State, ASEAN-ERAT confirmed this process, noting that returnees will be issued NVCs upon completion of the registration process at the Reception Centre. It was said that the NVC would serve as a guarantee for the returnees to access livelihood opportunities and basic needs such as health and education services.138 However, the experiences of Rohingya with NVCs to date indicate the contrary. Attitudes towards the NVCs 83. The Mission heard many accounts from the Rohingya community about their strong opposition to the NVCs. There appears to be a complete distrust in the Government’s sincerity regarding its assurances that the NVCs are a pathway to citizenship. 139 The 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 26 CI-214. CI-243, CI-291, FI-046, FI-047, FI-052, FI-053. CI-243, CI-291, FI-052. FI-052. FI-052, FI-053. CI-243, FI-052, FI-053. FI-047 (Copy of the NVC is on file with the Mission). FI-010, FI-015. FFFGEN-1-84279. FFFGEN-1-86990, Human Rights Watch, Don’t Whitewash Atrocities Against Rohingya, 19 June 2019; Progressive Vioce of Myanmar, ASEAN Civil Societies and Rohingya Organizations Issue A Joint Statement on ASEAN – ERAT Preliminary Needs Assessment for Repatriation in Rakhine State; ASEAN, ASEAN SecGen briefs diplomatic corps on the Preliminary Needs Assessment for Repatriation in Rakhine State, available from https://asean.org/asean-secgen-briefs-diplomatic-corpspreliminary-needs-assessment-repatriation-rakhine-state-myanmar/. FI-015, FI-018, FI-019, FI-022, FI-024, FI-025, FI-027, FI-039, FI-041, FI-042, FI-046, V-047.