There Are A Total Of 21 Actions Rejecting Rohingya Immigrants In Aceh

The photo archive - Police take photos of Rohingya immigrants who are accommodated in a shelter in Padang Tiji, Pidie Regency, Aceh. BETWEEN/M Haris SA

BANDA ACEH - Aceh Police recorded 21 times the community's action against the presence of Rohingya immigrants in the province of the western tip of Indonesia in the last month, because people are worried about their presence.

Head of Subbid Penmas Partner Affairs for Public Relations of the Aceh Police, Kompol Yasir, said the rejection was based on public concerns about Rohingya immigrants arriving in Aceh without any definite handling from related parties.

"As of December 8, 2023 to January 5, 2024, we recorded that there were 21 actions against the community and students against Rohingya immigrants. This rejection was due to various public concerns about the existence of these immigrants," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, January 8.

Yasir said the arrival of the Rohingya immigrants was suspected to be related to the interference of human smuggling syndicates. This is evidenced by the existence of 24 cases related to the crime of trafficking in persons against Rohingya immigrants.

Of the 24 cases, he said, the police arrested 45 people related to a criminal syndicate of trafficking in persons involving Rohingya immigrants to Aceh.

"Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the human smuggling behind the arrival of Rohingya immigrants in Aceh, so that it does not cause social problems that can disrupt security and public order in the future," said Yasir.

He said Indonesia was not a country that ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention. This means that Indonesia is not obliged to accommodate the Rohingya immigrants.

According to Yasir, the Rohingya immigrants came from refugee camps in Bangladesh, such as Cox Bazar. They were able to escape from the refugee camps because of concessions and neglect of supervision.

However, Yasir said, the focus of the police is currently securing the Rohingya immigrants in order to prevent social conflict with the community.

"Meanwhile, the authority to handle Rohingya immigrants is the domain of UNHCR, a UN institution that takes care of international evacuation," said Yasir.