More than 400 people deported from Malaysia to Rakhine State are still waiting to reunite with families

Khaing Lu Hla (Roma Mray)

Narinjara, October 16, 2026

Among the 1,476 Myanmar nationals deported from Malaysia on October 4, 2026, 429 individuals from Rakhine State remain restricted from reuniting with their families despite having arrived back in the country more than ten days ago.

Reports indicate that the Rakhine deportees are being held separately across two locations in the Yangon Region: 217 individuals are at the Sasana Beikman religious hall in Thanlyin Township, while the remaining 212 are being detained at the Hlaing Tharyar (West) Township Hall.

The prolonged separation has caused mounting anxiety among relatives.

A relative said, "Some of these deportees are Rakhine individuals whose families live right here in Yangon," a local resident told Narinjara. "Even though their loved ones are nearby, they are not allowed to see them. There is no need to hold them in these halls; they should simply be sent back to their families."

Concerns are also rising regarding deportees from areas like Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung. Observers note that rather than being flown back to their home towns, they are instead being detained under surveillance in Yangon.

Information gathered by Narinjara suggests that several individuals are currently being interrogated over potential links to the Arakan Army (AA).

On October 10, the military regime’s Ministry of Immigration and Population held a formal ceremony in Hlaing Tharyar (West) Township to issue copies of Citizenship Scrutiny Cards and biometric UID cards to the returnees.

Despite this official documentation process, human rights observers have raised serious concerns over the military's decision to continue detaining and interrogating the Rakhine nationals, specifically targeting those holding "11/" National Registration Cards, rather than releasing them to their families.