KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) strongly condemns the actions of a group of university students in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh who have been reported to have stormed a temporary shelter for Rohingya refugees, demanding their eviction.
APHR Co-Chair Charles Santiago, in expressing concern over the matter, said that the group of students appears to lack empathy or compassion for their fellow human beings who have already endured significant suffering.
Charles emphasised the involuntary nature of becoming a refugee, saying: “No one chooses to be a refugee; to be forced from your home only to face further persecution in the place where you are seeking shelter adds insult to injury.”
On Wednesday, hundreds of youngsters believed to be students of higher education institutions stormed a building’s basement where refugees were sheltered.
The mob broke a police cordon and forcibly put 137 refugees on two trucks, and moved them to another location in Banda Aceh. The incident has left refugees shocked and traumatised.
Highlighting the historical generosity of the people of Aceh towards Rohingya refugees, Charles expressed gratitude for their hospitality. However, he lamented the lack of concrete actions by the governments of Indonesia and other ASEAN member states in addressing the broader Rohingya refugee crisis.
“ASEAN and the wider international community have turned a blind eye towards the plight of the Rohingya for far too long,“ Charles asserted.
He called for collaborative efforts among ASEAN member states and neighbouring countries to establish a clear multilateral mechanism for handling Rohingya refugees.
“The ASEAN troika must prioritise taking firm action against the illegal junta and providing support for the establishment of a democratic and inclusive Myanmar that guarantees equal rights for the Rohingya people,“ said Charles, underscoring the collective responsibility of ASEAN and the international community to address the root causes of the refugee crisis. -Bernama
