Kontras Highlight Treatment To Rohingya: Why Do Students Who Should Defend The People Act Anarchically?

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Aceh stated that there is a need for massive socialization to the public, including students, to reduce the escalation of the negative narrative of the Rohingya refugee issue.

"Indonesia (the government), in this case its authorities, must explain to the public that so far misinformation and disinformation have been circulating regarding Rohingya refugees which have been fatal," said the Coordinator of Kontras Aceh, Azharul Husna, in Banda Aceh, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, December 29.

Husna said that the issue of Rohingya's rejection first occurred in 2022 or the 39th arrival on the coast of the Aceh region since January 7, 2009. At that time, refusal came from the community in Bireuen, then in Lhokseumawe.

However, recently the rejection from the community was getting worse, the peak was when the action of a number of students who were members of the BEM Nusantara alliance on Wednesday (27/12) who forcibly moved 137 Rohingya from the Balee Meuseuraya Aceh (BMA) Building.

"Why should these students act to defend the marginal people, instead act anarchically on refugees? If the authorities carry out their duties and responsibilities, it might not happen," he said.

In addition, Husna continued, hate attacks not only target Rohingya refugees, but also target humanitarian worker staff and parties deemed supportive or pro-refugee.

"In Aceh, ulama alone now are not trusted if they speak up which contains pro-refugee. This means that the negative narrative that is built about refugees is concentrated with the public," he said.

He considered that the escalation of the conflict did not only arise considering that the refugee issue had been going on for decades in Indonesia.

He believes that the phenomenon of existing hate speech cannot be separated from the auspices of narratives from a number of parties.

"In order to get attention on basic information that should be used as the main intake of the community in deciding their actions further, such as the anarchic and xenopphobic actions carried out by students," said Husna.