Residents Reject Discourse On The Relocation Of Rohingya To The Aceh PMI Building

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Aceh Building on Jalan Ajien Jeumpet, Darul Imangah District, Aceh Besar, Wednesday (3/1/2024). (ANTARA/Aprizal)

The discourse on the relocation of 137 Rohingya ethnic people from the Bamai Meuseuraya Aceh (BMA) standings to the Aceh Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) building on Jalan Ajien Jeumpet, Darul Imang District, Aceh Besar was rejected by local residents, because it was feared that it could cause conflict and harm the local community.

The rejection arose after a number of community leaders, youth, keuchik (village heads), and the Darul Imang and Peukan Bada sub-district leadership meeting held a coordination meeting at the Aceh PMI Building on Wednesday (3/1).

"I brought the results of today's meeting is the decision of all residents of Gampong Ajien, that they objected to the placement of Rohingya refugees in PMI Aceh. We object to security reasons and many other things," said Keuchik Gampong Ajuen Ferdiansyah in Aceh Besar as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 3.

He explained that Gampong Ajeun is a densely populated area. If the refugees are still placed in the PMI Aceh building, it is feared that it will cause turmoil from the community around the location, both Darul Imangah District and Peukan Bada.

"Gampong Ajuen is a densely populated area, brought by refugees (here), I am afraid that there will be other turmoil later that cannot be predicted. It is feared that something like what happened in other places, there is a possible demonstration, but I can't be sure," he said.

Junaidi, a community leader in Gampong Ajien, who objected to Rohingya refugees being placed in the PMI Aceh building. Moreover, he said, so far the handling of Rohingya in Aceh has caused many problems, so it is feared that the same thing will happen.

"The problem arises because the Rohingya's congenital character is different from ours, then our readiness in managing refugees is not so good, so many problems arise in the Rohingya itself, whose impact will widen to the community," he said.

Therefore, he continued, the residents of Gampong Ajien rejected the placement of Rohingya refugees in the PMI Aceh building, and asked the government to find other appropriate solutions, which did not cause problems for the community, both in the social aspect, and in the legal aspect.

In addition, the Head of Gampong Youth, Ajuen Reza Aulia, assessed that Rohingya refugees were difficult to maintain to stay in shelters. Residents are worried that the refugees can easily leave the shelter so that it will cause conflict in the community.

"We reject the Rohingya refugees who are placed in PMI in Gampong Ajuen because they are directly collaborating with the community here. So it will be very overwhelmed by the community, as well as from the security forces to monitor them," he said.

Moreover, he said, based on experience from several other Rohingya temporary shelter locations in Aceh, many of the refugees fled from the shelter so that it was very disturbing for residents.

"What we are guarding are humans. Once we guard at door A, they will look for opportunities to get out of door B," he said.

Previously, the discourse on moving Rohingya refugees in Aceh to the PMI Aceh building was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD.

The statement came after hundreds of students in Aceh held an action against Rohingya refugees who were in the building standings of Balai Meuseuraya Aceh after landing on Blang Ulam beach, Lamreh Village, Mesjid Raya District, Aceh Besar on Sunday (10/12/2023).