UN and US criticize Malaysia over Myanmar deportations

26 February 2021
UN and US criticize Malaysia over Myanmar deportations
Myanmar returnees are seen undergoing medical treatment onboard the Navy vessels. Photo: MNA

The United Nations and the United States have joined human rights groups criticising Malaysia after the government defied a court order not to return a group of more than 1,000 Myanmar nationals to the country pending a judicial review, Aljazeera reported.

Malaysia returned 1,086 Myanmar nationals to their home country on three ships sent by Myanmar’s navy on Tuesday night, even though the High Court had earlier ruled the process should be delayed pending a court action by human rights and refugee groups concerned the group would be at risk if they were sent back to Myanmar.