Mahfud MD Affirms Indonesia Only Temporarily Accommodates Rohingya Refugees

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that Indonesia was only temporarily hosting hundreds of Rohingya refugees.

Moreover, according to Mahfud, Indonesia did not participate in signing the agreement on sheltering refugees from Rohingya.

This was conveyed by Mahfud MD after the government decided to accommodate Rohingya refugees who were adrift on a boat in the waters of Bireun, Aceh.

"Actually, Indonesia did not participate as a party to sign or ratify the refugee camp. Because the United Nations has formed the UNHCR to regulate it," Mahfud told reporters in Jakarta, Thursday, December 30.

However, the government's decision to accommodate hundreds of refugees consisting of women, children and men was based on a sense of humanity. In addition, Mahfud said, their condition is also alarming so they need to be helped immediately.

"They entered the waters and some wanted to die, some jumped, some wanted to drown themselves because they were sick, some because if they were returned it would be better if they just died. Some people are like that," said Mahfud.

"In the end, we accommodated it. Meanwhile, but because once again, we did not participate in ratifying what is called UNHCR, so we only helped," added Mahfud.

As previously reported, the Indonesian Navy through its element, KRI Parang-647, withdrew the Rohingya ethnic refugee ship carrying more than 100 people from the point found at 53 NM Bireuen, Aceh waters to the Kruengkeukuh Port, Lhokseumawe City, Thursday.

Head of the Naval Information Service (Kadispenal) First Admiral TNI Julius Widjojono in a press release, said the withdrawal had been carried out since 06.00 WIB after conditions were bright and safe for the process of tying and pulling ships in the middle of the high seas. Lhokseumawe at around 18.30 WIB," said Julius as quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 30.

The Indonesian government in the name of humanity has decided to accommodate Rohingya refugees who are currently floating on a boat in the ocean near Bireuen Regency, Aceh.

"This decision was made after considering the emergency conditions experienced by the refugees on the ship," said Deputy for Security and Public Order at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Inspector General Armed Wijaya in a written statement in Jakarta.