9-12-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesian police have detained nine individuals in Aceh, including three locals acting as coordinators and six Rohingya refugees attempting to leave a temporary shelter in Blang Mangat, Aceh.
The district police chief of Lhokseumawe, Assistant Commissioner Henki Ismanto, reported that all suspects were apprehended in Uteunkot village, eight kilometres from the shelter, on Friday.
According to Ismanto, the six Rohingya refugees escaped the camp by jumping over the fence and crawling through rice fields. They were later picked up in Uteunkot Village before heading to North Sumatra on a public bus.
The three local citizens admitted to being contacted by a fugitive, identified as KH, to pick up the refugees. Authorities plan to charge them under immigration law, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 600 million rupiah.
During the arrest, police seized items, including a car, three phones, two identity cards, and 1.8 million rupiah in cash for transportation costs. At least 30 Rohingya refugees have fled the camp, and the police are actively pursuing them, according to Ismanto.
President Joko Widodo expressed grave concerns about human trafficking crimes linked to the increasing number of Rohingya refugees entering Indonesia, particularly in Aceh. Citing substantial evidence, he affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the situation with strict measures.
Indonesia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will continue to coordinate with international organizations to tackle the Rohingya refugee issue. Joko Widodo stressed that the provision of temporary humanitarian aid to the refugees would prioritize the interests of the local community.
On Monday, he instructed the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD to address the influx of Rohingya refugees landing on Aceh’s beaches since mid-November. Responding to concerns raised by Aceh residents, Mahfud mentioned potential camp locations for the refugees, although the government has not made a decision yet.
