About 140 Rohingya Muslims are currently stranded on a wooden boat just a mile off the coast of Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh, as local residents have adamantly refused to let them onto land. The Rohingya, mostly women and children, are reportedly weak and hungry, with some having perished during the arduous journey from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. The boat has been floating off the coast since Friday, and despite their dire situation, the local community has decided not to allow them ashore.
According to Indonesian officials, the group of Rohingya left Cox’s Bazar on October 9 with the intention of reaching Malaysia. Tragically, their ordeal has been marked by suffering, with reports indicating that three Rohingya refugees lost their lives during the voyage, prompting authorities to transfer 11 others to a government hospital due to deteriorating health conditions. The refusal to let the Rohingya land stems from concerns about potential unrest, with local residents citing incidents in other places as the reason for their stance.
Muhammad Jabal, the chief of the fishing community in South Aceh, explained that the fishing community had decided not to allow the Rohingya ashore due to past experiences. Despite the lack of permission to land, local residents have provided food for the stranded group, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has also stepped in to offer assistance. It was revealed that the boat had originally carried 216 individuals when it initially set sail, with 50 reportedly disembarking in Indonesia’s Riau province.
In a separate development, Aceh police have taken three individuals into custody on suspicion of involvement in people smuggling, shedding light on the complexities of the situation. The Rohingya are among the more than 1 million refugees who reside in Bangladesh, with the majority having fled Myanmar to escape a brutal crackdown in 2017. The Rohingya minority in Myanmar continues to face discrimination, with many denied citizenship and limited access to essential rights and services.
Indonesia, like its regional counterparts Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention, which means the country is not legally bound to accept the Rohingya refugees. However, Indonesia traditionally provides temporary shelter to refugees in distress, offering a glimmer of hope amid the otherwise challenging circumstances faced by the Rohingya community. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing plight of the Rohingya people and the urgent need for international action to address their precarious situation.