Repeated Expulsions, Now West Aceh Residents Reject Rohingya Residents

The government is expected to play its maximum role so that horizontal conflicts do not arise over the existence of Rohingya refugees.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

The Rohingya refugees are seen while they were still in a temporary shelter at a building owned by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in West Aceh, Aceh, on Friday (22/3/2024).

MEULABOH, KOMPAS — Some residents in Johan Pahlawan District, West Aceh Regency, Aceh, evicted Rohingya refugees who originally occupied the former office building local Indonesian Red Cross. As of Thursday (28/3/2024), the refugees were still living in emergency tents inside the regent's office complex.

Initially, on Thursday (21/3/2024), there were 75 Rohingya refugees who survived after a capsized boat incident and were placed in a former PMI Aceh Barat office building. They were taken there because residents in Beureugang Village, Kaway XVI District, rejected the government's plan to place refugees in their village.

After facing rejection, the refugees were taken to the former office building of PMI in Suak Nie Village, Johan Pahlawan District. The building had been unused for years. Tall shrubs, up to one meter high, had grown in the yard. The floor was full of dust and many items were scattered around.

Also read: How long will Aceh accommodate the Rohingya?

The West Aceh PMI does not object to loaning the building to accommodate refugees. On that day, Acting Regent of West Aceh, Mahdi Effendi, also accompanied the refugees and distributed emergency aid to them.

However, on Tuesday (26/3/2024), several residents visited the former PMI office building carrying a number of banners and posters rejecting the presence of Rohingya refugees in their area. The residents broke down the door and smashed the windows.

A resident of Johan Pahlawan who took part in the Rohingya rejection movement, Muhammad Nasir, stated that residents do not want Rohingya refugees to be placed in their village. The reason for requesting the refugees to be removed from the village is due to an initial agreement with the West Aceh District Government that refugees would only be accommodated for five days.

Although the presence of refugees does not directly burden the residents, they still insist on relocating the refugees to another location. "There may be further actions. We cannot stop them," said Nasir.

Also read: 75 Rohingya Ethnic Citizens Safe, Dozens Disappeared in Aceh Waters

Responding to the residents' request, the West Aceh Regency Government then brought refugees to the regent office complex. The refugees were placed in emergency tents. Meanwhile, 11 refugees who were found dead at sea have been buried in West Aceh.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Ethnic Rohingya refugees pray in congregation while staying at a temporary shelter at the Mina Foundation in Padang Tiji district, Pidie Regency, Aceh on Friday (November 23, 2023).

Assistant I of West Aceh Regency Government, Samsul Alam, requested the High Commission for Refugees of the United Nations (UNHCR) to immediately relocate the refugees out of West Aceh. "To avoid horizontal conflicts, refugees must be moved from West Aceh," said Samsul.

When encountered on Thursday (21/3/2024), Samsul stated that they were not burdened by the presence of Rohingya refugees. As fellow human beings and believers, Rohingya refugees deserve to be helped. However, after pressure from residents emerged, the local government finally suggested that the Rohingya refugees be removed from Aceh Barat.

The government must respond to public concerns over the presence of Rohingya refugees.

This is not the first time protests have been staged against the presence of Rohingya refugees in Aceh. Similar cases have occurred in Bireuen, Pidie, Sabang, Aceh Besar, and Banda Aceh. Some residents do not want their area to become a landing site for refugees.

Also read: Indonesia's dilemma in handling Rohingya refugees, between security and humanity

UNHCR Indonesia staff member, Faisal Rahman, stated that in accordance with the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 125 of 2016 concerning the handling of refugees from abroad, the issue of determining temporary shelter locations is the responsibility and authority of the regent/mayor.

"In terms of location, it is determined by the West Aceh Regency Government. We will facilitate the basic needs of the refugees," said Faisal.

BASARNAS BANDA ACEH

The body of a Rohingya refugee being evacuated by Basarnas officers in Banda Aceh on Monday (25/3/2024). Out of the 142 refugees on board, 75 survived, 10 died, and the rest are missing.

Faisal stated that all basic needs of refugees, such as food, medicine, and sanitation, will be the responsibility of UNHCR and other institutions. Faisal also stated that the presence of Rohingya refugees will not burden the region's finances.

"The regency government assisted and contributed during the initial arrival of the refugees. However, it is now our responsibility as there is no special allocation of local budget for handling refugees," he said.

Regarding the location, the West Aceh District Government decides. We will facilitate basic needs for refugees.

Director of the Legal Aid Institute of Banda Aceh, Aulianda Wafisa, stated that persecution against Rohingya refugees must be stopped. The Legal Aid Institute of Banda Aceh urges local and central governments to fulfill their roles in accordance with regulations so as not to cause conflicts among residents due to the presence of refugees.

Also read: Hundreds of Rohingya Refugees Return to Aceh

"The unrest that occurs within the community is purely because the state has failed to fulfill its role. The government must respond to the concerns of the public regarding the presence of Rohingya refugees," said Aulianda.

He added that the handling of refugees from foreign countries has actually been regulated in Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016. The steps for handling refugees should, therefore, just follow the presidential regulation.

The commotion that occurs in society is purely because the state has failed to take its role.

According to Aulianda, the Chairperson of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and member of the UN Human Rights Council, Indonesia can play a significant role in protecting and advocating for human rights in the ASEAN region.

With its strategic position, Indonesia can be more serious in striving for the fulfillment of human rights for all sectors of society. Indonesia can even exert pressure and push the Myanmar military junta to stop committing genocide against the Rohingya ethnic group.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Two Rohingya refugee children take care of their sick mother upon arriving at Ulee Lheu Port, Banda Aceh City, Aceh Province, on Wednesday (22/11/2023). The refugees landed in Sabang City on Tuesday (21/11/2023) night and are planned to be relocated to Lhokseumawe City.

Regarding allegations of human smuggling and criminal acts of human trafficking in relation to Rohingya refugees, LBH Banda Aceh is pushing for law enforcement to get to the root.

"Law enforcement officials should immediately expose the syndicate so that the fulfillment of human rights is not diverted by other issues that trigger conflicts between the community and Rohingya refugees," said Aulianda.

Also read: Save Rohingya Lives