Malaysia repatriates Myanmar migrants despite UN warnings

Buses accompanied by security vehicles, carrying migrants to a boat to be repatriated to Myanmar , arrived at a stadium near Malaysia 's Lumut naval base on Tuesday.

Malaysia is starting the first phase of a process agreed with Myanmar's military regime to send as many as 5,000 people back to the wartorn country.

Malaysia says the process is strictly voluntary, but the UN refugee agency and civil society organizations have voiced concerns about the security of those returning, saying they could face either military recruitment, persecution or detention amid the ongoing civil war.

The buses full of people arrived at the Lumuk naval base on Myanmar's northwest coast on Tuesday.

Two naval vessels and a hospital ship were docked on site seemingly ready for a naval transport.

Malaysia's Home Ministry had said in late August that the first phase of the repatriation would start in September. It said that the repatriation involved 1,476 Myanmar citizens identified by the Myanmar government.

Malaysia has tightened immigration enforcement in recent years amid rising local hostility against refugees, particularly ethnic Rohingya ⁠Muslims ​from Myanmar .

Myanmar's state media this month also cited the Foreign Ministry as saying it was working with countries to facilitate the voluntary return of verified displaced people in a safe and dignified manner.