240 Rohingya Muslims Stranded Off the Coast of Indonesia as Local Residents Reject Their Landing

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Rohingya Muslims Stranded at Sea as Local Residents Reject Their Arrival in Indonesia

ACEH UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — A group of approximately 240 Rohingya Muslims, including women and children, find themselves adrift off the coast of Indonesia after facing rejection from local residents in their attempts to land ashore.

According to officials, the boat carrying the Rohingya Muslims made its most recent attempt to land in Aceh Utara district, located in Indonesia’s Aceh province, on Thursday afternoon. However, it was forced to leave a few hours later due to the resistance it encountered from the local community.

This incident marks the fourth boat of Rohingya refugees to reach Indonesia’s northernmost province since Tuesday. The previous three boats successfully arrived in a different district and were allowed to disembark.

Residents living near Ulee Madon beach in Muara Batu sub-district expressed their refusal to accept the latest group of Rohingya refugees, citing previous discomfort caused by their presence in the area. Saiful Afwadi, a traditional leader in Muara Batu sub-district, stated, “From a humanitarian perspective, we are concerned, but from another perspective, they are causing commotion. We provided shelter to them, but we also cannot accommodate them.”

Echoing this sentiment, Rahmat Karpolo, a village head, highlighted that previous encounters with Rohingya refugees resulted in their escape from shelters. He expressed concerns about a potential reoccurrence of such incidents, stating, “So we are worried that the same incident will happen again.”

The Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing from Buddhist-majority Myanmar since August 2017, following an army-led crackdown. More than 700,000 Rohingya sought refuge in overcrowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh. However, due to the dire conditions in the camps, many feel compelled to embark on perilous journeys in search of a better life.

Most refugees who have chosen to escape by sea have aimed to reach Malaysia. Nevertheless, a significant number have found themselves stranded in Indonesia along the way.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a written statement on Thursday, clarifying that the country is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Consequently, Indonesia lacks the obligation and capacity to accommodate refugees, let alone provide a permanent solution for their plight.

Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, the spokesperson for the Ministry, emphasized that Indonesia’s provision of temporary shelter to refugees is solely driven by humanitarian reasons. He highlighted the unfortunate reality that many countries party to the convention have closed their doors and even implemented policies to push back refugees.

Moreover, Iqbal shed light on the exploitation of Indonesia’s kindness by people-smugglers who seek financial gain without considering the high risks faced by vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. In fact, numerous refugees have fallen victim to human trafficking, as identified by authorities.

As the Rohingya Muslims remain adrift at sea, their future hangs in the balance. The international community continues to grapple with finding a sustainable solution to the crisis, while the plight of these refugees highlights the urgent need for greater global cooperation and support.

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Associated Press writer Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

Rahmat Mirza, The Associated Press.