KSAL: Investigate The Status Of Rohingya Refugees According To International Rules, Refugees Or Dark Immigrants?

Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali/ANTARA/Hreeloita Dharma Shanti

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali stated that the government needs to investigate the official status of Rohingya refugees in order to ensure that the person concerned is refugees due to war or illegal immigrants due to victims of criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO) in accordance with international regulations.

"Because now it is clear that there is a TIP intention and effort, this is categorized or statused. Are they really refugees due to war or illegal immigrants? That must be investigated," Ali said after attending the Dharma Samudera Day flower sowing ceremony in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 15.

Responding to Rohingya refugees who easily entered Indonesian waters, Ali said the Indonesian Navy continued to try to deal with Rohingya refugees and related parties until finally the problem could be handed over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

After the government learned of the alleged TIP which caused refugees to keep coming, he said, the TNI took steps with stakeholders to check the status or cause of the person concerned entering Indonesian waters.

However, according to the KSAL, these efforts are not easy because based on international rules, if Rohingya refugees are indeed refugees who go to other countries due to war, the state should not refuse their arrival.

"It is the same with the arrival of refugees due to violence or genocide," he said.

The main problem with refugees is in accordance with international rules, according to him, it is rather difficult because Indonesia must accept it or not. "If it is in international rules, the name of refugees as a result of war, refugees from violence, genocide, and other activities should not be rejected as stated by the Foreign Minister, just like that," said Ali.

KSAL Ali said that a number of parties involved with the TNI were to maintain the security and sovereignty of the territorial waters of the Republic of Indonesia, namely Bakamla, the Marine Police, the Aceh Special Region Police, and the KKP, especially in overcoming Rohingya refugees, the number of which is still increasing.

This cooperation, he said, continues to be strengthened in order to thoroughly investigate the motives of the refugees, to investigate the individuals who carry their personal interests.

"That's what continues to be investigated. If this is indeed an illegal immigrant, we will drive it. Several times our KRI in Sabang, KRI Bontang and several other KRIs are now on guard in Sabang waters and around Aceh in North Sumatra," said Kasal.