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bout 400 Rohingyas are now stranded in Aceh. What should the government do with these poor refugees, who are often treated like pariahs in their motherland, Myanmar, and some say, also in Bangladesh? For humanitarian reasons, the government has pledged to treat them well. The Acehnese have a strong empathy with them because they are Muslims, many of them have long been homeless, and some had even to flee Malaysia or southern Thailand due to conflict there.

We empathize with them not only because they are Muslims, like most of us, but because of our sense of humanity. They are seeking asylum for the third time, but it is highly unlikely they will find Samaritans to warmly welcome them, as the world now is facing economic disaster.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has indicated the government will send the refugees back to Myanmar; of course, not simply by forcing them back to sea as the authorities in Thailand did.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must work together to investigate the cause of the Muslim refugee problem. Not an easy task as the Myanmar junta leaders are ruthless and tend to ignore international condemnation. But ASEAN leaders should not let the Myanmar generals do whatever they like at the cost of other ASEAN members. The Rohingyas are their citizens.

Indonesia has had a good track record in handling refugees since 1970, when thousands of boat people fled from Vietnam and Cambodia after North Vietnam won the war against South Vietnam and the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. Indonesia provided Galang Island in Riau as a refugee camp, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) organized their resettlement to other countries.