About 250 Rohingya refugees in Indonesia sent back to sea
In a distressing turn of events, approximately 250 Rohingya refugees aboard an overcrowded wooden boat were denied entry to western Indonesia, facing opposition from local residents. The persecuted minority from Myanmar sought refuge off the coast of Aceh province on Thursday, only to be turned away by irate locals who urged them not to land. Some refugees, undeterred, swam ashore and collapsed from exhaustion on the beach.
Despite their forced return to sea, the beleaguered boat eventually landed on the coast of North Aceh, where locals once again insisted that they return to the water. By Friday, the vessel, reportedly sailing from Bangladesh around three weeks prior, had disappeared from sight.
Residents in the area expressed frustration with the Rohingya presence, citing concerns about individuals running away upon arrival and suspicions of human trafficking involvement. Saiful Afwadi, a traditional community leader in North Aceh, conveyed the sentiment, stating, “We're fed up with their presence because when they arrived on land, sometimes many of them ran away. There are some kinds of agents that picked them up. It's human trafficking.”
Chris Lewa, director of the Rohingya rights organization, the Arakan Project, attributed the villagers' rejection to a lack of local government resources to accommodate refugees and a perception of exploitation by human traffickers. Lewa emphasized the unfortunate situation where the anger of villagers is directed at Rohingya individuals who are themselves victims of smugglers and traffickers.
Attempts to ascertain the boat's whereabouts after being turned away proved futile, leaving the fate of the refugees uncertain. An investigation in 2020 revealed a complex people-smuggling operation involving the Rohingya community, with Indonesia serving as a transit point to Malaysia.
Locals in Ulee Madon and Cot Trueng villages provided the refugees with supplies, including food, clothing, and gasoline, before compelling them to return to sea. Efforts were made to repair the boat after Rohingya individuals on board attempted to sink it. Locals, including Afwadi, escorted the vessel away from the shore to ensure its departure.
Residents cited a lack of resources to accommodate more refugees, expressing concerns about the Rohingya's behavior and their tendency to disappear from temporary shelters provided in the past. UN refugee agency spokeswoman Mitra Salima Suryono highlighted that many refugees sought to reunite with family members in Malaysia or simply sought protection, emphasizing their primary concern for safety, security, and livelihood.
In a week that saw nearly 600 Rohingya refugees reach western Indonesia, the challenges faced by these displaced individuals underscore the ongoing complexities surrounding their plight in the region. The UN agency reported that over 2,000 Rohingya attempted the perilous journey to Southeast Asian countries in 2022, with nearly 200 casualties or disappearances recorded the previous year.
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