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Hosting refugees: Beyond a transit nation
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has recorded an estimated 14,000 refugees residing in Indonesia, from countries in the region such as Myanmar, and outside of the region such as Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran.
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A refuge rally in front of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) office in Jakarta, February 6 2017. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
I
ndonesia has hosted thousands of refugees and asylum seekers ( jointly referred to as “refugees”) for many years. We have traditionally been known as a transit country for refugees from the Southeast Asian region and beyond.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has recorded an estimated 14,000 refugees residing in Indonesia, from countries in the region such as Myanmar, and outside of the region such as Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran. The Indonesian government protects refugees by only deporting them if their asylum claims are rejected by the UNHCR, who carry out the processing of refugees. Furthermore, the government only allows the temporary presence of refugees in the country and does not allow them to work or study.
In short, Indonesia aims to maintain its status as a transit country and wants to deter refugees from entering Indonesia.
Nevertheless, in the wake of the current crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where an estimated 300,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, one should reconsider Indonesia’s relevance as a transit country.
The Rohingya, often labelled as the world’s most persecuted minority, have long journeyed into the region as refugees. According to the UNHCR report in December 2016, there were close to 1,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar in Indonesia.
Solving the question on refugees generally relates to three options: voluntary repatriation to their country of origin, integration into the host country or resettlement in a third country.
The first two options are not possible. First, Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens, hence they can’t turn back. Second, since Indonesia is not bound to the 1951 UNHCR Refugee Convention, the Rohingya cannot gain permanent residency leading to Indonesian citizenship. This situation leaves only the option for resettlement.
