Foreign Refugees In Pekanbaru Number 886 People, Some Already Existing Since 2012

Head of the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office Mhd. Jahari Sitepu. (Antara)

PEKANBARU - Head of the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office Mhd. Jahari Sitepu revealed that the number of refugees in Pekanbaru currently reaches 886 people. They come from various countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Pelestina, Somalia, and Sudan.

He said that during the Dissemination of Assisted Voluntary Return and Rentegration (AVRR) for Askers for Reserves, Refugees, and Final Rejected Persons which were held by Ditjenim with Ditkermakim, IOM, and UNHCR.

"Some of them have even been in Pekanbaru since 2012 and seven people are final-rejected personnel," said Jahari in Pekanbaru, Riau, quoted from Antara, Thursday, July 7.

Jahari said that with such a large number, the refugees often carry out demonstrations against relevant agencies, demanding the right to be placed in the destination country as soon as possible.

"Meanwhile, Indonesia is not a country that participates in ratifying the 1951 Convention, which means that Indonesia is not a destination country, only as a transit country and cannot fulfill these demands. As guests who come to stop, refugees can maintain their attitudes and behavior," he said.

Ferry Herlingsuhut's cooperation coordinator as a representative of the Directorate of Immigration Cooperation, said that Indonesia's geographical location, which is directly adjacent to neighboring countries, has the potential to be an entry access for asylum seekers citizens.

"For example, at the end of 2021 Rohingya refugees will come to Indonesia via Lhokseumawe, Aceh, with 105 people registered in the middle of the year being transferred to Pekanbaru," said Ferry.

He regretted that the presence of asylum seekers who were accommodated in Indonesia was actually a lot of people who violated the regulations. For example, there are refugees who are involved in illicit trafficking of narcotics and human smuggling and are currently undergoing criminal charges. However, they cannot be deported because they are still asylum seekers.

Jahari Sitepu added, to overcome all these concerns, the entire Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights hopes that the activities initiated by the Director of Immigration Cooperation, hopefully, can help refugees and final-rejected personnel specifically in the Riau Province Region to be returned to their home countries with the Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Resisted Voluntary Relations Assistance Program.

Furthermore, refugees and final-rejected can start their lives again in their home country, facilitated by IOM and UNHCR.