Residents Of Lhokseumawe Aceh Have Begun To Reject Rohingya Refugees, Ministry Of Law And Human Rights, UNHCR-IOM Criticisms That Do Not Take On A Role

Acting (Plt) Director General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Widodo Ekatjahjana when interviewed by media crews in Nusa Dua, Bali/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) regrets the attitude of The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migrant (IOM) who did not take on the role of dealing with Rohingya refugees. "As a result, this causes social problems in Indonesia," said Acting Director General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Widodo Ekatjahjana in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, November 25. This was conveyed by Widodo in response to the case of the rejection of Rohingya refugees by the people in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, Aceh Province. "UNHCR and IOM must take a role in handling refugees who come from abroad. Do not run away from responsibility and only provide refugee certificates," said Widodo. "As a result of the certificate issued, he said, the refugees can do whatever they want in Indonesia. This has the potential to become a social problem in Indonesia," he said. Widodo explained that in Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2016 concerning Handling Foreign Refugees, immigration through Immigration Detention Centers plays a role in collecting data through inspection of travel documents, immigration status, and identity. Furthermore, the Immigration Detention Center officers coordinated with the United Nations (UN) through the High Commissionerate Office for Refugee Affairs in Indonesia. In terms of refugee shelters coming from abroad, immigration coordinates with the local district/city government to bring or place refugees from where they are found to shelter locations. "The provision of basic rights for refugees in shelters such as clean water, food, drink, clothes, health services, and worship facilities is the responsibility of UNHCR and IOM as a whole," he said. Previously, the Head of the Lhokseumawe Class II Immigration Office on Tuesday night reported that residents had refused the arrival of Rohingya refugees who tried to break through the gate by breaking the lock and immediately entering the former Lhokseumawe Immigration Office in Puenteut without any approval. Until now there has been no further information regarding the placement of the Rohingya ethnicity. The people in Puentuet are still on guard in front of the former Immigration Office building to anticipate the return of the Rohingya group.