Abandoned, 152 Rohingya Migrants Finally Accommodated In South Aceh GOR

ACEH BANDA - A total of 152 Rohingya immigrants were finally accommodated at the Tapaktuan Sport Center Sports Hall, Gampong Pasar, Tapaktuan District, South Aceh Regency, after they were adrift on a truck and taken to a number of areas in Aceh.

ImigranRohing arrived in Tapaktuan, the capital of South Aceh Regency, by riding four trucks on Saturday at 03.42 WIB, Saturday, November 9.

Currently, the sports building is fitted with police lines and is under strict guard by local security forces.

Inside the building, the immigrants were seen cleaning themselves and eating. Some children play badminton with makeshift tools.

Previously, the people in Tapaktuan had rejected the presence of Rohing immigrants, namely being brought back to South Aceh. The community gathered around Simpang Kede Aru, Friday (8/11), starting to gather at 20.30 until 23.35 WIB.

The community rejects the presence of Rohingya immigrants on the grounds of anticipating unwanted events after the presence of Rohingya immigrants, such as occurring in several areas in Aceh Province.

However, after a tough audience between the community and representatives of the South Aceh Regency Government and the police and for the sake of humanity, the community allowed the hundreds of Rohingya immigrants to be placed in the TSC GOR for the time being.

The Rohingya immigrant was previously landed at Labuhanhaji Port, Thursday (24/10). Previously, they had been adrift on the ship for several days because the community refused his presence.

After being accommodated at Labuhanhaji Port, as many as 152 immigrants were taken to the Tapaktuan Square Field on Thursday (7/11). However, at around 23.30 WIB in the evening, they were taken to a truck and taken to the Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Aceh Province in Banda Aceh.

After traveling on land for eight hours on the way, the Aceh Province Ministry of Law and Human Rights rejected their presence. The immigrant was also not given permission to get off the truck that was carrying him.

A few hours in front of the office, hundreds of Rohing immigrants were then taken to Lhokseumawe City. However, the local community refused their presence and was eventually returned to South Aceh Regency, where they were first landed.

Previously, the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Aceh Province, Meurah Budiman, said that the handling of foreign refugees such as Rohingya immigrants was the authority of the local government.

"The Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Aceh Province is not authorized to handle, including in the placement of refugees from abroad. The authority rests with local governments, both provincial and city districts," said Meurah.

He mentioned the handling of foreign refugees, such as the Rohingya case, referring to Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2016 concerning the Handling of Refugees from Overseas.

This authority is stated in Article 24 of Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2016. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights, in this case immigration, is assigned to the level of supervision, data collection, and document verification.

"The data collection and verification of this document has been carried out in South Aceh Regency. Furthermore, the placement of shelters is the authority of the local government. The shelter location is determined by the mayor," said Meurah.