The Rohingya Crisis: How Indonesia Can Lead the Way for a Comprehensive and Humanitarian Response

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group that have faced persecution and violence in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and basic rights. 

Since 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, where they live in overcrowded and squalid camps. Many of them have also attempted to seek refuge in other countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, often using smugglers and boats.

On January 7, 2024, a group of 81 Rohingya refugees, including 49 women and 18 children, arrived in Aceh, Indonesia, after spending more than 120 days at sea. They were rescued by local fishermen, who spotted their wooden boat drifting near the coast. They were the first Rohingya to reach Indonesia since 2018, when more than 1,000 arrived in several waves.

The arrival of the Rohingya refugees posed a challenge and an opportunity for Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, which has a history of hosting and helping refugees from various conflicts and crises, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.

The protection and the assistance of the Indonesian government and society

The Indonesian government and society responded to the arrival of the Rohingya refugees with compassion and generosity, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic downturn. The government granted the refugees temporary protection and humanitarian visas, and allowed them to stay in a shelter in Lhokseumawe, a city in Aceh. 

The government also provided them with food, water, health care, and security, and coordinated with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other international and local organizations to assess their needs and status.

The Indonesian society also showed solidarity and support for the Rohingya refugees, especially in Aceh, a province that has a strong Islamic identity and culture, and that has experienced a devastating tsunami in 2004 and a long-running separatist conflict that ended in 2005. 

The Acehnese people welcomed the refugees with open arms and hearts, and donated money, clothes, and other items to the shelter. They also visited and interacted with the refugees, and shared their stories and experiences.

The protection and the assistance of the Indonesian government and society were praised and appreciated by the Rohingya refugees, who expressed their gratitude and relief. They also expressed their hope and desire to find a durable and dignified solution for their future, whether in Indonesia or in a third country.

The leadership and the advocacy of Indonesia in the regional and international arena

The leadership and the advocacy of Indonesia in the regional and international arena were also crucial and commendable, as Indonesia sought to raise awareness and mobilize action for the Rohingya crisis, which has been described as one of the worst humanitarian and human rights disasters in the world. Indonesia has taken various steps and measures, such as:

• Engaging and influencing Myanmar, as a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to end the violence and discrimination against the Rohingya, and to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Indonesia has also offered to help Myanmar in the repatriation and reintegration of the Rohingya refugees, under the condition of safety and voluntariness.
• Supporting and assisting Bangladesh, as a fellow Muslim-majority country, to cope with the influx and the burden of the Rohingya refugees, and to improve their living conditions and prospects. Indonesia has also urged and urged other countries, especially in the region, to share the responsibility and the solidarity, and to open their doors and hearts to the Rohingya refugees.
• Advocating and campaigning for the Rohingya cause, as a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN Human Rights Council, and as a candidate for the UN Security Council. Indonesia has also initiated and participated in various forums and platforms, such as the Bali Process and the Jakarta Declaration, to address the root causes and the consequences of the Rohingya crisis, and to promote a comprehensive and humanitarian response.

The leadership and the advocacy of Indonesia in the regional and international arena were recognized and respected by the Rohingya refugees, who expressed their trust and confidence. They also expressed their appeal and plea to the world, especially to the UN and the powerful countries, to take action and to end their suffering and plight.