Once, West Aceh Residents Reject Rohingya Refugees

MEULABOH - Several times, hundreds of residents of Beureugang Village, Kaway XVI District, West Aceh Regency, Thursday, March 21 afternoon, rejected the arrival of 69 Rohingya ethnic residents who would be placed in the Beureugang Mental Hospital Complex, owned by the local government.

"No Rohingya residents were injured in this incident," said the Head of Operations Section (Kabag Ops) of the West Aceh Police, Kompol M Nasir to ANTARA in Meulaboh, Thursday, March 21 evening.

He said the Rohingya ethnic departure from the Meulaboh Jetty Port to a shelter location in Beureugang, Kaway XVI District, West Aceh Regency, also received strict supervision from police officers and other related parties.

During the rejection, there was an eviction, but the Rohingya residents were still in the truck and had not had time to be taken to the intended location.

Finally, the Rohingya transport truck was directed back to Meulaboh City, the capital city of West Aceh Regency to avoid unwanted things.

Journalists at the location reported that when the rejection took place, West Aceh Regent Mahdi Efendi was at the scene, but could not do anything because of the resistance of local residents.

Kompol M Nasir explained the residents' actions because the people in the area refused to be placed in the Rohingya ethnicity.

"The information we obtained at the scene, the community did not want a village like what happened in other areas in Aceh. They were disturbed by the arrival of Rohingya to their village, they were uncomfortable," said Kompol M Nasir.

The West Aceh Police also appealed to the people in West Aceh Regency to keep the situation safe and conducive, and not to take actions that disturb security and order in the community.

He asked the public to maintain a safe and conducive situation, as well as maintain the sacredness of the holy month of Ramadan by not taking actions that could disrupt security and order in society.

"Let's maintain the blessings of this month of Ramadan by jointly maintaining security in our respective regions," said Kompol M Nasir.

Not Receiving Refugees

Meanwhile, one of the participants in the rejection action, Leo (44 years), a resident of Beureugang Village, Kaway XVI District, West Aceh Regency, said they were forced to take action against it because the people in the area did not accept the arrival of refugees here.

"All areas in Aceh do not accept Rohiya refugees, when we receive them," he said.

According to him, the local community will continue to reject if their village is used as a refugee location.