Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Asks Aceh Authorities To Open Their Hands For The Arrival Of Rohingya Refugees

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy. (doc. Setkab)

ACEH - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy asked the authorities in Aceh to welcome Rohingya refugees to Aceh Province.

Muhadjir asked for acceptance to be carried out through coordination with various related parties, including the willingness of local residents.

"We are very open, we must also be served well, but we must pay attention to the willingness of the residents to accept the person concerned," he said after attending a seminar entitled "Together Prevent the Silent Pandemic of Antimics Resistance" in Jakarta, Monday, November 20, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said the Aceh authorities must be able to pay attention to cultural differences so that residents and refugees have no problems in the future.

"Of course it's not just people, but also the culture of behavior and then accommodation, then this must be seen from that side. I ask the local government, especially Aceh Province and districts, so that they can pay attention to this," he said.

He assessed that until now there has been no serious problem related to the refusal of the Acehnese to the arrival of their Rohing refugees.

"I haven't seen anything serious yet, then the explosions are limited in nature," he said.

The arrival of the third wave of Rohingya immigrants during November 2023 to the coast of Aceh was rejected by the community, even though the previous two ships had been received by the Pidie Regency Government.

Over the past few times, hundreds of Rohingya refugees have visited Aceh. First on Tuesday, November 14 on the coast of Gampong Blang Raya, Muara Tiga District, Pidie Regency with 200 people, six of whom fled.

On Wednesday, November 15, as many as 147 Rohingya immigrants landed in the Beurandeh Beach area, Batee District, Pidie Regency, and were temporarily accommodated in that place.

On Thursday, November 16, Aceh visited a Rohingya immigrant ship in the Pesisir Jangka area, Bireuen Regency. However, they were rejected by local residents.

Because of the refusal of the people of Bireuen, the ship carrying 249 Rohingya immigrants landed in the North Aceh Regency area. But then, after being fed and dressed, they were pushed back into the ocean.

On Sunday 19 November, as many as 220 ethnic Rohing were anchored in the Pidie Regency area. They immediately entered the village and stopped at the Kulee Gampong prayer room, Batee District.