Photo: Collected
More than 100 Rohingya refugees including women and children landed in Indonesia’s westernmost province amidst threats from the locals on Saturday (2 November). The officials have confirmed the information. The locals are threatening to push back the refugees from the shore back to the sea.
This development came following the Rohingya refugee arrival in Aceh last month, where more than 1000 Rohingya refugees landed. This was the biggest Rohingya refugee arrivals in Indonesia since 2015, stated the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The Rohingya people, who are predominantly Muslim, face severe persecution in Myanmar. Every year, hundreds of them risk their lives by embarking on lengthy and costly sea voyages often in rickety boats in an attempt to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
The chief of Ie Meulee village, where the most recent wave of Rohingya landed, Dofa Fadhli, told AFP, "The Rohingya refugees were already on the beach when I arrived."
There are 139 individuals who are refugees in total. There were grown men, women, and children present. We haven't done a precise count. Around 2.30 am local time, the boat arrived to the village in Aceh Province, the speaker continued, adding, "We are waiting for other related parties."
According to Fadhli, if the most recent refugees are not transferred, they will be forced back into the sea, but in the interim, they will receive assistance.
"We, the residents of Ie Meulee, strongly reject the arrival of the Rohingya refugees," he stated.
"If within the time limit that we have given until this afternoon, there is no action, then we will return the Rohingya refugees back to their boat."
UNHCR protection associate Faisal Rahman confirmed more than 100 refugees had landed in Sabang and said officials were on their way to the island.
Messenger/Sun Yath
