Image Credits - France 24
President Joko Widodo of Indonesia expressed strong suspicions that the surge in Rohingya Muslims arriving in the country is linked to human trafficking. During a press conference, he reported an increase in Rohingya refugees in Aceh province and directed authorities to take decisive measures against human traffickers.
Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing temporary humanitarian aid for refugees and addressing local community concerns, the president disclosed plans for discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to find a resolution to the refugee situation.
For years, numerous Rohingya individuals have undertaken risky voyages on precarious boats to reach neighbouring Thailand and Bangladesh or venture further to Malaysia and Indonesia, both predominantly Muslim nations. Typically, these sea journeys occur between November and April, taking advantage of calmer seas.
While Indonesia has traditionally been a refuge for Rohingya, the recent surge in arrivals has sparked growing negativity on social media and some resistance from the local population in Aceh, the westernmost region where the majority of landings occur.
The predominantly Muslim Rohingya community experiences severe persecution in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation, notably during a 2017 crackdown currently under investigation by the UN for genocide. Many Rohingya have sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh, where they reside in camps.
From these camps, thousands annually embark on perilous and costly sea voyages covering approximately 1,800 km (1,120 miles) in an attempt to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. In the past month, Indonesia’s westernmost province of Aceh witnessed a significant surge in arrivals, with over 1,000 Rohingya refugees landing there, marking the largest such influx since 2015.
In a live-streamed video, President Joko Widodo asserted a strong suspicion of the involvement of human trafficking networks in the Rohingya arrivals, emphasizing that Indonesia would take decisive action against them, though specific details were not provided. The president also announced plans to provide temporary humanitarian aid to the Rohingya while maintaining a priority for the needs of residents.
The police chief of Lhokseumawe City, Aceh, Henki Ismanto, reported the arrest of three local individuals on charges of human trafficking. These suspects facilitated the departure of 30 Rohingya refugees from a camp in Lhokseumawe city. Allegedly, each refugee paid 300,000 Indonesian rupiahs (approximately US$19.30) to the suspects for assistance in relocating to another location on Sumatra Island. Over the past few years, authorities have arrested at least three Indonesians and one Bangladeshi national for aiding Rohingya in their efforts to escape to different destinations.
Indonesia, not a party to the UN Refugee Convention, asserts that it is not obligated to accept refugees from Myanmar. However, as neighbouring nations close their doors, the Rohingya minority finds itself with few alternatives.