returns. In March 2020, the UN refugee agency confirmed that conditions in Rakhine State were not yet conducive to returns. 17 Refugees in Bangladesh say that they want to return once it is safe. “I want to go back to Myanmar but only when we will be given our rights there,” said Sadek Hossen. 18 “We deeply want to go back to our country … but it is impossible since we can’t find justice,” said Azara, 65, who used to farm the family land in Myanmar. 19 The Rohingya are at even greater risk since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar, given that the country is now under the full authority of the commander-in-chief, Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who oversaw the military responsible for crimes against humanity and genocidal acts against them. 20 Lack of Support from Regional Governments Other governments in South and Southeast Asia have often ignored the plight of Rohingya refugees, violating international obligations not to return anyone to a place where their life or freedom would be at risk and leaving Bangladesh to shoulder the weight of the crisis. Malaysian authorities have repeatedly pushed back boats of Rohingya asylum seekers, leaving hundreds in life-threatening conditions. Although Malaysia currently hosts more than 100,000 Rohingya refugees registered with UNHCR, the current government has stated that the country will take no more. 21 In the past 12 months, when refugees have reached Malaysian soil, the authorities have detained them, denied them access to the UN refugee agency, and prosecuted some for illegal entry. 22 In June 2020, Malaysian 17 “Greater progress needed to ensure safe return of displaced Rohingya: UN refugee agency chief,” UN News, March 3, 2020, https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1058521 (accessed April 15, 2021). 18 “Myanmar: Rohingya Await Justice, Safe Return 3 Years On,” Human Rights Watch news release, August 24, 2020, https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/video/2020/08/21/376184. 19 Human Rights Watch interview with Azara, Bhasan Char, February 22, 2021. 20 “Myanmar: Military Coup Kills Fragile Democracy,” Human Rights Watch news release, February 1, 2021, https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/01/myanmar-military-coup-kills-fragile-democracy. 21 Rozanna Latiff, “Malaysia can't take any more Rohingya refugees, PM says,” Reuters, June 26, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingya-malaysia/malaysia-cant-take-any-more-rohingya-refugees-pm-saysidUSKBN23X19Y (accessed May 13, 2021). 22 Nisha David, Hadi Azmi, and Pimuk Rakkanam, “Rohingya Boat is Off Thailand, Has Been at Sea 4 Months: Malaysia Official,” Benar News, June 10, 2020, https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/Rohingya-boats06102020150325.html (accessed April 15, 2021); “Malaysia: Stop Treating Rohingya Refugees as Criminals,” Human Rights “AN ISLAND JAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA” 16