Regional Secretary: Pekanbar Is Not Suitable To Accommodate Rohingya Refugees

A number of Rohingya refugees have arrived in Pekanbaru and are currently being placed in the local Rudenim. ANTARA/Annisa Firdausi

The Regional Secretary of Pekanbaru City, Riau Province, Indra Pomo Nasution, said that the area was not suitable to be used as a shelter for Rohingya refugees if it was based on a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi.

"According to the Foreign Minister, foreign refugee shelters must be isolated, not in locations that allow refugees to interact with the local community. So, if you look at the existing conditions and the criteria presented by the Foreign Minister's mother, our place is not suitable," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 18.

He explained that the Pekanbaru community itself was busy, then the shelter location was also in the middle of the city, but the Pekanbaru City Government was still waiting for the direction of the central government regarding Rohingya refugees.

As many as 13 Rohingya refugees came to the capital city of Riau Province last week and are currently at the Pekanbaru Immigration Detention Center.

Indra said that based on a joint online meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, there had been no decision for Pekanbaru.

"Is it used as a location for Rohingya refugee shelters that are currently accommodated by Aceh. When we meet with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Provincial Governments of North Sumatra, Aceh and Riau, most of the Rohingya refugees will be placed in Aceh," he said.

In Aceh, he said, there is already a Scout Campground that can accommodate around a thousand refugees, then in several districts with a capacity of 200 refugees.

However, Acehnese, especially in shelter locations, are not willing to accept Rohingya refugees. For this reason, the central government will try to find a place that is truly localized so that the refugees cannot interact with the local community.