Roelf Meyer denies he thought Ngapali holiday resort was for repatriated refugees

Former arms dealer Roelf Meyer, a member of the international advisory committee on how to whitewash genocide, has been forced to deny claims he was duped by the government of Burma into believing that Ngapali holiday resorts were repatriation camps for Rohingya.

There had been bewilderment at Roelf Meyers assertions, after just two days in Rakhine State, constantly escorted by government and military officials, that it was safe for Refugees to return to what Rohingya activists have described as concentration camps.

Following news that the advisory board had inexplicably visited Ngapali beach, speculation has grown on social media that the board has been duped by Aung San Suu Kyi. Some even made comparison with the fake show camps set up for the benefit of international visitors after Cyclone Nargis.

“In fact I was quite open in my criticisms of shortfalls in the repatriation camps,” said Roelf Meyer.  “For example they were serving ham at the breakfast buffet and pork curry on the dinner menu, which is obviously insensitive for a Muslim population as well as a waste of resources. People were swimming in the clothes washing facilities, and the only place to hang clothes to dry was sun loungers, another unnecessary expense in a refugee camp. Another problem is that many rooms don’t have connecting doors, which will be difficult for large Muslim families who can’t all be expected to squeeze into one double or twin bedroom.”