Mahfud: Aceh, Riau And North Sumatra Muspida Crowded Temporary Places For Rohingya Refugees
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that Regional Leadership Deliberations (Muspida) from three regions namely Riau, Aceh and North Sumatra will build temporary shelter locations for Rohingya refugees.
"(The handling of Rohingya refugees) is in progress. Because this will still invite three muspida, three provinces, Riau, Aceh, North Sumatra. That is to find a place that is temporary in nature," Mahfud said after attending the Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace. Jakarta reported by ANTARA, Monday, December 11.
Mahfud emphasized that in dealing with Rohingya refugees, Indonesia is not bound by the UN convention on refugees, but on humanitarian grounds.
"We are diplomatic, we have to help people, we have to save people. But many Indonesian people on the inside also question, 'oh sir, we are also hungry, we are also poor'. Yes, they are both helped. The country's name is the task of protecting human rights as well. Everything is still going on," he explained.
Mahfud said the most important thing at this time was that there were no victims in the handling of Rohingya refugees. The government will determine the place and procurement for Rohingya refugees.
Previously, President Joko Widodo said that the government accommodated temporary Rohingya refugees who entered Indonesian territory.
"I say that we will temporarily accommodate it," he said in response to questions about the issue of handling Rohingya refugees in Indonesia after inaugurating the Ancol Sentiong Pump Station in North Jakarta.
According to the President, the Indonesian government is still discussing the solution to the problem of handling Rohingya refugees with relevant international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee Affairs (UNHCR).
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Discussions on the handling of Rohingya refugees include social problems that arise in communities in areas visited by Rohingya refugees such as Aceh, Riau, and Medan.
"We are still talking with international organizations, UNHCR and others, because the local community does not want it," said President Jokowi.