Governor Anticipates The Potential Entry Of Rohingya Refugees To Bengkulu

Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah after commemorating National Defense Day in Bengkulu, Tuesday. (19/12/2023) (ANTARA/Boyke Ledy Watra)

BENGKULU - Bengkulu Provincial Government took anticipatory steps regarding the potential entry of Rohingyake refugees to the province nicknamed Bumi Rafflesia.

"We have carried out periodic patrols, Mr. Kapolda, Dirpolair is the same way, this is like the state defense department too. (However) until now there has been no definite movement," said Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyahdilansir ANTARA, Tuesday, December 19.

The rise of the arrival of Rohingya refugees in Aceh has not escaped the attention of the Bengkulu Provincial Government. This is because Bengkulu is on the west coast of Sumatra which is directly facing the Indian Ocean.

Bengkulu Province is also connected to the waters of Aceh Province because the coastal sea area west of Sumatra Island is Aceh Province, then North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bengkulu, and Lampung.

Then Bengkulu also has a fairly long coast that extends along 524 kilometers to face the Indian Ocean.

The governor said that currently the Bengkulu Provincial Government continues to make persuasive efforts and prevent the arrival of Rohingya refugees to the local area.

"We are more persuasive and preventive approaches to overcome these things," he said again.

Meanwhile, regarding the commemoration of National Defense Day, Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah invited all elements of society to continue to maintain the ideology of the nation, the ideology of Pancasila and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"It is our responsibility as elements, together to love the country, maintain the Pancasila ideology, protect the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, care for each other, they are one unit," said Governor Rohidin Mersyah.