Myanmar ships with returnees from Malaysia enter home waters, state media says

Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals sent back from Malaysia aboard navy ships are expected to reach the war-torn country's commercial hub of Yangon within days, state media reported on Friday, despite warnings from the United Nations and rights groups that the returnees could be at risk amid a raging civil war.

Three Myanmar navy vessels carried 1,476 Myanmar nationals into Myanmar waters on Thursday, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.



The nationals have been repatriated from Malaysian immigration detention camps after serving sentences for illegal stays and violating immigration regulations.



The United Nations has said conditions in Myanmar "do not support the safe and sustainable return of refugees", although Malaysia insists that the process is strictly voluntary.



The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Kelley E. Currie, said on Thursday that she was "gravely concerned". She urged Malaysia to stop the repatriations and work with the UN to address the situation of Myanmar refugees.



Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in 2021 ousted an elected civilian government, triggering a civil war in the impoverished Southeast Asian country.