Acting Governor Of Aceh: Human Trafficking Rohingya Is Too Much

The body of an ethnic Rohingya immigrant who was found dead in Meunasah Hasan Village, Madat District, East Aceh Regency, Thursday, October 31, 2024. (ANTARA-Hayaturahmah)

Acting Governor of Aceh, Safrizal ZA is angry with the human trafficking case of the Rohingya ethnic Trafficking Crime (TPPO) which continues to occur in Aceh.

This statement was made by Safrizal in response to the two waves of arrivals of dozens of Rohingya refugees in Aceh waters this month, namely in South Aceh and today in East Aceh.

"But on the other hand, this human trafficking activity has gone too far (Rohingya's arrival in Aceh)," Safrizal told reporters in Banda Aceh, Thursday, October 31, which was confiscated by Antara.

Previously, as many as 151 Rohingya ethnic immigrants were adrift in the waters of Labuhan Haji, South Aceh Regency, on Friday (19/10). After six days at sea, they were finally evacuated to the mainland.

They consist of 79 adult women, 13 adult men and 59 elderly children. Currently, temporarily accommodated in the port terminal building of Labuhan Haji District.

Today, Aceh returned as many as 93 Rohingya refugees, they landed on the coast of Meunasah Hasan Village, Madat District, East Aceh Regency.

According to the Acting Governor of Aceh, the arrival of the Rohingya refugees was indicated by the activities of the human trafficking mafia. However, from the humanitarian aspect, he is quite concerned about the incident.

Therefore, he asked the police to really enforce the law against this re-occurrence of people smuggling activities.

"Yesterday, in South Aceh, the Aceh Police had uncovered a syndicate of smuggling people, and this has happened again in East Aceh," said Safrizal ZA.

The Aceh Regional Police have arrested three suspects for smuggling Rohingya ethnic immigrants to South Aceh Regency, and there are also eight people on the wanted list (DPO).

The eight suspected perpetrators have their respective roles in the human trafficking case of Rohingya ethnic immigrants. And one of them was convicted of smuggling Rohingya immigrants in West Aceh Regency a few months ago.

On the other hand, the arrival rate of Rohingya residents in Aceh in the last two years has increased, where in 2022 574 refugees were visited, then 2023 reached 2,888 people, and for 2024 to date two waves have been visited with a total of 244 people.