Tatmadaw Naval Vessels Repatriate 1,476 Myanmar Citizens, Warmly Welcomed Home
THE government deeply values, aids, and
protects its citizens abroad whenever they face hardships, under any
circumstances. Furthermore, through Myanmar embassies and consulates-general
overseas, the relevant authorities consistently prioritize coordinating with
the host governments to provide necessary rescue and repatriation assistance to
Myanmar citizens experiencing difficulties abroad for various reasons.
Under the guidance of the Head of State,
officials from the Tatmadaw and relevant ministries coordinated to repatriate
1,476 Myanmar citizens who had completed sentences for unlawful residency and
other immigration offenses in Malaysia, were detained in immigration depots,
and faced difficulties returning home. The Myanmar Navy vessels UMS Mottama,
sea-going hospital ship UMS Thanlwin, and UMS Sinphyushin departed Yangon on
24 September to retrieve them. The naval vessels arrived at Lumut Port in
Malaysia on the morning of 28 September.
After systematically receiving the
detained Myanmar citizens from Malaysian authorities, the ships departed on
the evening of 29 September. They docked at No 3 Jetty (Thilawa) in Yangon at
around 7:35 am yesterday, completing a smooth and successful repatriation to
the motherland.
During the voyage, vessel personnel
warmly welcomed the citizens, provided orderly accommodation, delivered
necessary healthcare, and prepared daily meals. The servicemen on board and
ministry officials also organized recreational activities —including games,
movie screenings, and group physical fitness exercises — while supplying
clothing and essential personal care items.
Moreover, on the morning of 1 October,
as the vessels crossed into Myanmar territorial waters, the returning
citizens—who had been away from their homeland for an extended period—applauded
and celebrated with joy upon receiving a warm welcome message from the Head of
State, greeting them as siblings and family. They expressed heartfelt gratitude
for the Head of State’s goodwill and compassion in arranging their return, as
well as for the dedicated assistance rendered by all involved officials.
When naval vessels arrived at No 3
Thilawa Jetty in Yangon, officials from relevant ministries, members of the
Regional Government, and family members extended a warm and joyous welcome. The
returnees were treated to lunch—including chicken rice, snacks, and refreshments—and
boarded arranged vehicles heading to pre-designated gathering centres for
temporary rest. Relevant authorities conducted verification and screening
before systematically transferring them to representatives of Region/ State
governments, while officials from the Ministry of Immigration and Population
issued Unique Identification (UID) cards by region and state. Necessary arrangements
are continuing to facilitate their swift reunion with relatives and family
members, ensuring their safe return to their respective hometowns.
The government maintains a strong focus
on rescuing and repatriating citizens experiencing hardships abroad. In 2026,
from January to September, 1,905 stranded Myanmar citizens were repatriated
from Cambodia via military and chartered flights; on 23 July 2026, 26 Myanmar
fishermen detained in Port Blair for illegally entering Indian waters were
brought back aboard Myanmar Airways International (MAI); and on 23 February
2021, 1,086 citizens stranded in Malaysia after serving sentences for
immigration violations were returned aboard Tatmadaw naval vessels.
Additionally, 8,041 citizens were repatriated by air between January and the
end of August 2026. The current mission successfully brought home the remaining
1,476 citizens from Malaysia aboard Myanmar Navy vessels on humanitarian grounds
following bilateral governmental coordination.
Driven by the parental benevolence of
the Head of State, the steadfast efforts of the Tatmadaw, and the goodwill and
cooperation of departmental agencies, the journey home has been accomplished
for overseas Myanmar citizens who had endured hardship far from their
motherland. As they prepare to reunite with their families, returnees expressed
profound relief and joy, shed tears of emotion, and shared their happiness.
Currently, the government is actively
driving socioeconomic development initiatives to foster comprehensive
national progress and ensure that all citizens can live and work safely. It is
emphasized that by recognizing the government’s sincere goodwill and engaging
diligently in agriculture, livestock breeding, and micro, small, and
medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) domestically, citizens can enhance national
productivity while securing dignified and safe livelihoods.
Consequently, Myanmar citizens
intending to work abroad are urged not to fall prey to the allurements and
persuasion of human trafficking brokers, to refrain from leaving the country
illegally through border areas, and to exercise caution against peer pressure
to prevent falling victim to human trafficking. Citizens abroad who encounter
difficulties are advised to contact Myanmar embassies and consulates-general;
arrangements will be coordinated with the respective host governments to
ensure their safe and peaceful return to the motherland.
The following are the joyous expressions
and sentiments shared by the returnees from Malaysia and the mission officials
upon their smooth return to Myanmar:
Interview 1
A call came from the Malaysian embassy
saying my husband was on board the ship. On 9 January, that was the first time
I heard his voice again. After that, he told a young navy officer, and that
officer contacted me to say, “We are bringing him home.” Coming to welcome him
back, I don’t even know how to describe what I felt. But I really kept looking
over and over at the number from the phone where I heard his voice. I also
want to tell him words of encouragement. He took the risk to go work over there
because of our little daughter’s health. Now that he is returning, he knows
nothing about how our daughter was hospitalized while he was away. I struggled
all alone with our two children. In my heart, I just want to give my husband
words of comfort and strength. I am always praying and wishing well for the
people who rescued them like this. To tell the truth, since we had been out of
touch for so long and had no contacts, I even thought I might never see him
again. Whenever the kids went to bed, they would ask, “When is Daddy coming
home?” That was the hardest question for me to answer. Now, I can finally answer
it. Since he is back, mother and children, father and children are reunited.
That is why I am grateful to all the responsible authorities and leaders who
brought them home. I thank everyone —regardless of rank, high or low—who helped
bring them back so our families could reunite happily like this. The fact that
I am crying right now—these are tears of joy. Just as I am overjoyed to see my
husband again, may other families experience this joy too. I sincerely thank
everyone, wish them well, and hope all the families are as happy as we are.
Interview 2
During the time I spent in prison, no
one ever came to check on me. Not a single person turned their head to look. My
siblings didn’t, and not one of my friends came either. When it came to food,
it was just plain boiled meals. Everything was watery; there was not a single
drop of oil. I was held in there for seven whole months, and nobody came to see
me. When no one showed up, I was going through immense pain, thinking, “I guess
we’ll never get to go home. Will we have to stay here forever? Will our lives end
right here?” Right at that moment, when they called out my name, my tears just
poured down. It had been so long since I tasted Myanmar food—almost an entire
year. Comparing being inside prison to being here, eating Myanmar meals again
made me feel overwhelmed with joy. When I got off the vehicle and saw those
big ships coming over, I realized, “This isn’t a dream; it’s real.” In that
moment, I felt like the happiest person in the whole world.
Interview 3
I am overjoyed, beyond words in my
heart. We have longed to return to Myanmar for such a long time. When we first
arrived here, we came to earn money to make a living. But we ran into
hardships, and as our living situation became suffocating and desperate, we
missed our beloved golden land of Myanmar so much and desperately wanted to go
back. Just seeing the Myanmar national flag, I couldn’t even put into words
how happy I felt — it brought such deep warmth and peace to my heart. I pray
from the bottom of my heart that the Head of State and all the people of
Myanmar who came to welcome and bring us back are blessed with health of mind
and peace of body. — 100/ST
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