Mahfud MD: Indonesia Helps Rohingya Refugees For Humanity

Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Mahfud MD/DOC. Kemenko Polhukam

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD emphasized that the state is helping Rohingya refugees for the sake of humanity even though Indonesia has not signed the United Nations (UN) convention on Refugees.

"The problem with our country is that many Rohingya refugees are being taken care of by UNHCR, the UN commission for handling refugees. Indonesia is actually not a signatory to the UN convention on refugees. However, for the sake of humanity, Indonesia continues to help," said Mahfud after attending the event. "National Dialogue" at the Annida Al Islamy Islamic Boarding School, East Bekasi was reported by ANTARA, Monday, December 4.

Mahfud said that currently there are around 1,447 Rohingya refugees entering Indonesia. This figure will continue to increase considering that the wave of refugees does not stop. Meanwhile, neighboring countries, such as Malaysia and Australia, can no longer accept Rohingya refugees.

"Indonesia has intervened. However, this continuous intervention has been overwhelming, the Acehnese have refused, 'here we also need land and food'. Those sent to Riau are also full, then to Medan they are already full," he said. he.

Based on these problems, Mahfud said that his party would hold a coordination meeting on Tuesday (5/12) with a number of stakeholders to find a solution so that Rohingya refugees could return to their home countries through the UN.

 

"Tomorrow we will have a meeting on how to return them to their country through the UN because there are representatives who are taking care of it. Later I will chair the meeting," he said.

President Joko Widodo has ordered the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD to handle the problem of Rohingya refugees entering Indonesian territory by involving regional governments and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Previously, UNHCR said that Rohingya refugees did not come to Indonesia to exploit Indonesia or the friendliness of Indonesian people. On the other hand, UNHCR calls the Rohingya refugees tough people who, if employed, will make a big contribution to society.