Human Rights Watch (HRW) has appealed to Indonesia, urging the nation to protect the welfare of Rohingya refugees. This plea follows numerous reported incidents of Rohingya refugee boats being pushed back by Indonesia. HRW makes a direct call to Indonesia to halt all repulsion of Rohingya refugee vessels, and to initiate investigations into, and bring an end to all assaults on refugees.
The organization is strenuously encouraging Indonesia to permit refugees to disembark at the closest safe harbors, provide them protection and humanitarian aid, and investigate instigative actions stirring violence against them online. Deputy Asia Director at HRW, Phil Robertson emphasized the need for the Indonesian government to protect and support Rohingya refugees, and to scrutinize and hold those holding accountable those behind any online campaigns promoting violence towards them.
In December 2023, there had been an incident where the Indonesian Navy intercepted a Rohingya refugee boat and forcibly ensured it left Indonesian waters. This operation was bolstered by claims that the vessel was carrying victims of human trafficking. Simultaneously, there were reports of Indonesian students storming a community center, forcibly relocating 137 Rohingya refugees, primarily women and children.
The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority group from Myanmar, has faced historical exclusion and brutal persecution, leading to a severe refugee crisis. Myanmar’s violence in 2017 led to over 742,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, which now hosts over 960,000 refugees, nearly half of whom are children. Rohingya have also sought refuge in other countries, such as Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Nepal.
The 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees establish basic rights for refugees and the framework for international protection. Despite these measures, Indonesia is not a signatory to either the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol. This reveals a significant gap in the legal protections available to Rohingya refugees arriving in Indonesia, further compounding the complexities of their quandary.
A comprehensive understanding of this issue can be found at HRW Calls on Indonesia to Protect Rohingya Refugees.