(16 May 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++CLIENTS NOTE: REFUGEE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED BY AP DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Delhi – 16 May 2025
1. Wide of anonymous Rohingya refugee playing voice recording from one of his relatives [detained refugees]. (Audio of woman saying: we are in a jungle, surrounded by the sea)
2. Shift focus of refugee talking on phone to trees in the distance
3. Close up of hand holding the mobile phone
4. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Anonymous Rohingya Refugee:
“My brother (detained man) told me that, life jackets were given to all the individuals, and they were thrown into the waters after their hands were untied and blindfolds removed. They saved their lives by swimming for 30 minutes. Then a fisherman rescued them and transported them to an island. The island was not inhabited by humans, there were big animals on the island. My brother had telephoned me with the fisherman’s phone.”
5. Man playing voice recording in his phone with one of his relatives
6. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Anonymous Rohingya Refugee:
“Then, the United Nations got to know about the case. They have been working for us and helped with the petition in an Indian court. We salute Indian law and courts and I hope the 40 Rohingya refugees who have been taken away like this, will get support from the courts.”
7. Various of closeup of feet of the man walking
8. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Anonymous Rohingya Refugee:
“We had reached India while saving our lives. We could have left India also. Suddenly my parents were snatched from me and taken away. I am not able to survive here. If someone gets information about my parents, please provide me that info. (Sobbing). There is nobody for me here.”
9. Man walking
STORYLINE:
Indian authorities allegedly forced dozens of Rohingya refugees off a naval vessel into the sea near Myanmar last week after providing them with life jackets, a United Nations agency, family members of the refugees and their lawyer said.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement on Thursday, said at least 40 Rohingya refugees were detained in New Delhi and cast into the sea by the Indian navy near the maritime border with Myanmar.
The refugees — including children, women and older people — swam ashore, but their whereabouts in Myanmar remain unknown, the agency said.
Five Rohingya refugees on Friday confirmed to The Associated Press that their family members were part of the group that were detained by Indian authorities on May 6.
The group, including 15 Christians, were flown in an aircraft and later cast into the sea by Indian navy authorities on May 8, they said.
Dilawar Hussain, a lawyer representing the refugees, said the families have filed a petition in India’s top court, urging the Indian government to bring them back to New Delhi.
India’s navy and foreign ministry declined to comment.
In its statement Thursday, the rights office said it had appointed a U.N. expert to probe into what it called were “unconscionable, unacceptable acts."
The U.N. agency urged the Indian government to refrain from “inhumane and life-threatening treatment of Rohingya refugees, including their repatriation into perilous conditions in Myanmar.”
Tom Andrews, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, called the incident “blatant disregard for the lives and safety of those who require international protection” and “nothing short of outrageous.”
India does not have a national policy or a law to deal with refugees. It is also not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol.
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