Human trafficking likely behind increased Rohingya arrivals: Indonesian president
ANKARA (AA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said that the growing number of Rohingya Muslim refugees arriving in his country is probably due to human trafficking.
“More and more Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are entering Indonesia, especially through the coast of Aceh Province,” he said in a video statement, posted on X.
“The government continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees and coordinates with international institutions handling refugees,” he said, adding that the government is investigating the existence of human trafficking behind this issue.
Over 1,200 Rohingya people entered Aceh province during the last month, Jakarta Post reported while citing a report by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).
Rohingya people mostly embark on dangerous journeys between November and April via boats to reach Thailand, Bangladesh, or further to Indonesia and Malaysia when the seas are calmer.
The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group from Myanmar who were subjected to a state sponsored genocide in their native Rakhine state in 2017. They fled the brutal military crackdown in 2017 and since then, most live in squalid refugee camps in the borderlands of Bangladesh.
The Rohingya have been described as “the most persecuted community” in the world by the UN in 2018.
The Myanmar junta refuses to facilitate their repatriation and even their recognition as citizens of Myanmar, condemning them to statelessness.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
