Malaysia deports 1,500 Myanmar nationals despite safety fears

Malaysia began sending nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals back to their war-torn homeland on Tuesday. The move is part of a government-to-government repatriation deal. The first group of 1,476 people is the start of an agreement to return 5,000 detainees held in Malaysian immigration facilities. Kuala Lumpur describes the programme as voluntary. However, human rights groups warn the plan lacks adequate safeguards. They say returnees could face persecution and forced conscription.