2. BORDER CLOSURES AND DANGEROUS JOURNEYS “ We are survivors of genocide, but we are victim-blamed for making dangerous journeys to find security for our families. If Rohingya people had access to decent livelihoods and education and were able to move legally, there would be no incentive for us to turn to traffickers. The best way to combat exploitation is to provide us with the legal means to live in dignity. ALI JOHAR The lack of security and protection, viable livelihood opportunities and a sense of hopelessness for the future drives onward migration for Rohingya. Without access to documentation, there are no legal routes to cross borders either by sea or land. There are also few options for secure, safe and decent work. As a result, building family lives and supporting households can be a constant struggle. The closure of borders due to COVID-19 has not halted cross-border movements. Instead, the restrictions have increased the human and financial costs for Rohingya attempting the journeys. Border closures have left travellers stranded at sea and in a situation of acute humanitarian need, lacking food, water and fuel. Hundreds have lost their lives. This crisis echoes those of 2010 and 2015, with states failing to cooperate to save lives and provide basic protections. Travellers and their families are also increasingly vulnerable to extortion and exploitation by brokers and traffickers. In June 2020, the families of Rohingya trapped on boats, were told that the set amount they had paid for the journey to Malaysia would be increased more than seven-fold and had to be paid in order for them to disembark. The lives of those onboard the boats were also threatened in order to extort money from their families.6 Additional immigration measures have also left Rohingya in South and Southeast Asia vulnerable to arrest and detention on arrival and in country. With limited access to UNHCR or asylum procedures for arrivals, there are concerns that COVID-19 measures are further eroding the rights to asylum and refugee rights for those in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Rohingya on boats that have been returned to Bangladesh have been separated from their communities in the camps and detained on Bhashan Char, a remote and unstable island. Although this is justified as a quarantine measure, there are no guarantees that they will be moved off the island and into the refugee camps. The use of Bhashan Char island has been resisted for several years. It has been described as ‘prison island’ and has been criticised by international groups.7 Meanwhile, border closures between Bangladesh and Myanmar have meant that both Rakhine and Rohingya attempting to flee fighting between the Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army (an armed Rakhine group), are unable to cross the border into Bangladesh to seek asylum. Increased restrictions on movement within Myanmar have caused Rohingya returning to their home villages from Bangladesh and elsewhere within northern Rakhine State to be arrested for illegal entry. According to information collected, 28 persons have been sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour. A total of 150 Rohingya will be charged.8 Video testimony on file with Nay San Lwin from the families of those trapped on the boats. Passengers were told by agents that for a payment of a set amount the agents would take responsibility for them until they got a job in Malaysia. However, after the boat crisis, they were told the amount had increased seven-fold in order for them to disembark. They were threatened with death. Agents involved have since been arrested and sentenced in Bangladesh. See also: ASM Suza Uddin & Poppy McPherson, June 15 2020, ‘Traffickers demand payments for Rohingya stranded at sea’, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingyaidUSKBN23M2BT (Accessed 26/07/2020.) 7 See also Dhakatribune, 11/03/2019, ‘UN envoy fears new crisis for Rohingya if moved to Bhashan Char’ https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2019/03/11/ un-envoy-fears-new-crisis-for-rohingya-if-moved-to-bhashan-char 6 8 Information compiled by Nay San Lwin. 5