In a disturbing incident, a large group of Indonesian students forcefully entered a convention centre in Banda Aceh, where hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were seeking shelter. The students, clad in green jackets, demanded the immediate deportation of the Rohingya, as captured in Reuters footage on Wednesday.
The city police spokesperson in Banda Aceh has not yet responded to requests for comments on the incident. The footage portrays the chaotic scene as students entered the building’s basement, where Rohingya men, women, and children were seated on the floor, visibly distressed. Authorities subsequently escorted the Rohingya out of the building, some carrying their belongings in plastic sacks, and transported them to alternative shelters via trucks while protesters watched.
Rohingya refugees in Indonesia have faced growing hostility and rejection, with locals expressing frustration over the increasing numbers of boats carrying this ethnic minority. President Joko Widodo attributed the surge in arrivals to human trafficking and pledged to collaborate with international organizations to provide temporary shelter.
The annual spike in arrivals occurs between November and April when the seas are calmer, prompting Rohingya to embark on boats bound for neighboring Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
During a protest rally in Banda Aceh, 23-year-old student Wariza Anis Munandar called for the deportation of Rohingya, emphasizing the sentiment that they “came here uninvited” and feel as if “it is their country,” as stated by 20-year-old student Della Masrida.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has not yet commented on the recent incident. Earlier this month, the UNHCR expressed alarm over reports of rejection of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia.
It’s important to note that Indonesia is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees but has a history of providing refuge to displaced individuals arriving in the country. Rohingya, facing persecution and denial of citizenship in Myanmar, have been leaving the country for years in search of safety and stability.
