Jokowi Orders Mahfud MD To Handle Rohingya Refugees Continue To Come To Aceh

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). (Twitter Cabinet Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has ordered the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD to deal with the problem of Rohingya refugees entering Indonesian territory, especially Aceh Province.

"Yes, I have ordered the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs to handle together with the regions, together with UNHCR," said Jokowi briefly in his statement ahead of his departure to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Monday, December 4, which was confiscated by Antara.

Previously, UNHCR as the United Nations agency for refugees said Rohingya refugees did not come to Indonesia to exploit Indonesia or the friendliness of the Indonesian people. On the other hand, Rohingya refugees are called UNHCR as tough people who, if made, will contribute greatly to the community.

UNHCR Indonesia spokesman Mitra Salima said the refugees came because of despair resulting from the increasing number of murder cases, kidnappings and dangerous situations in the previous residence.

According to Mitra, Rohingya refugees already know and are always reminded by UNHCR that they are guests in Indonesia so they must follow the laws and customs that apply in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, continued Mitra, the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2016 regulate the acceptance and handling of domestic refugees.

Mitra juga menjelaskan bahwa keberadaan UNHCR di Indonesia adalah membantu pemerintah menangani masalah pengungsi dan membantu mencari solusi bagi pengungsi.

He revealed that more than 70 percent of Rohingya refugees who landed in Indonesia over the past month were women and children.

According to UNHCR data, the majority of Rohingya refugees escaped and were given refugee status, such as more than 960,000 people in Bangladesh, 107,000 people in Malaysia, and 22,000 people in India.

The year 2022 will be one of the deadliest years in the history of the maritime movement of Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia, with 348 people, including children, dead or tragically missing.

For decades, Rohingya residents have experienced extreme suffering in Myanmar.