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Mahfud asks Bakamla to help curb Rohingya influx
The senior minister has instructed Bamkala to coordinate with the government's efforts, which also involve local administrations and the UN Refugee Agency, to increase maritime patrols to prevent the entry of additional Rohingya refugees as it seeks alternative sites to accommodate those already in the country.
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A group of Rohingya refugees rest on Nov. 22, 2023 after arriving on Weh Island, Aceh province. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)
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oordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD instructed the Maritime Security Agency (Bamkala) to increase patrols to prevent an influx of Rohingya refugees, at a meeting on Wednesday at his office in Central Jakarta.
The senior minister, who is looking for alternative locations to accommodate Rohingya refugees due to the perceived inadequacy of existing shelters, also noted that the current focus was to prevent the entry of additional Rohingya refugees while relocating those already in the country.
"We will explore every possible avenue to ensure they do not enter [Indonesian territory]. Bakamla will continue coordinating [patrols]," said Mahfud, as quoted by Antara News.
He added that the agency would coordinate with the Indonesian Navy on patrolling several areas.
This was among the government’s several initiatives in managing refugees in the country, Mahfud explained, which included coordinating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He had also instructed Home Minister Tito Karnavian to coordinate with the regional authorities in Aceh, North Sumatra and Riau to explore alternative locations to accommodate refugees.
Rohingya refugees would soon be relocated to new shelters to avoid overcrowding, he said, asserting that the government’s efforts were rooted in humanitarian principles.
"Our approach to the Rohingya is fundamentally based on humanitarian diplomacy as we actively seek solutions," said Mahfud.
