PSI Chairman Views Needs To Prioritize Humanitarian Aspects In Facing Rohingya Refugees

Chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Kaesang Pangarep spoke at a gathering with volunteers in Pati, Central Java, Sunday (17/12/2023). ANTARA/Katriana

PATI - Chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Kaesang Pangarep sees the need to prioritize humanity in the face of the presence of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia. "We must prioritize humanity. We must also help others," said Kaesang during a gathering with Pati residents, Central Java, as reported by Antara, Sunday, December 17. Although the presence of Rohingya refugees caused social problems for residents in Aceh, he invited volunteers to prioritize humanity. "Although we may still have problems in the country, as humans we must also be able to help each other," he said. Kaesang emphasized that the problem must have a solution as soon as possible so that it does not cause further social impacts. "Whether it will be returned to its home country, it certainly can't be done. However, there may have been several countries like Australia yesterday that were willing to accommodate them," he said. However, once again he stressed that he was looking for a solution as quickly as possible while still not putting aside humanitarian issues. Previously, Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Saturday (16/12) said that Indonesia was not obliged to accept Rohingya refugees because it was not a country that ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, but Indonesia decided to accommodate the refugees from Myanmar based on humanitarian diplomacy. Therefore, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi continues to call for the root of the Rohingya refugee problem to be resolved immediately so as not to have a further impact on fellow ASEAN countries. According to him, the continuing violence in Myanmar due to the conflict between the military junta and civilians has forced Rohingya residents to leave the country, and many of them eventually entered Indonesia.

"Therefore, I invite the international community to work together to stop the conflict and restore democracy in Myanmar so that Rohingya refugees can return to their homes, namely in Myanmar," said Retno at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) at the United Nations Office, Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday (13/12).