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Rights group slams Langsa officials for blocking Rohingya refugees
Kontras reported that during the group’s detention, Langsa authorities prevented humanitarian organizations from reaching the refugees, which consisted of 32 men, 51 women and 10 children.
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Seeking safe harbor: Newly arrived Rohingya refugees receive food while on their boat on Jan. 29 at Leuge Beach in Aceh. At least 75 Rohingya refugees arrived by boat in Aceh on Jan. 29, but were stopped by authorities from disembarking, according to local officials. (AFP/Cek Mad)
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he Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has criticized the Langsa administration in Aceh for blocking a group of Rohingya refugees from travelling through the city, calling the move a violation of the 2016 Presidential Regulation on the handling of foreign refugees.
Langsa police stopped a bus carrying approximately 90 Rohingya refugees at the Simpang Lhee bus terminal at around 10 a.m. on Monday and detained them for over 10 hours, according to the Aceh branch of Kontras.
The rights group stated that the refugees were passing through Langsa on their way from Bireuen regency to Pekanbaru in Riau, though it did not provide further details about the purpose of their trip.
Kontras also reported that during the group’s detention, Langsa authorities prevented humanitarian organizations from reaching the refugees, which consisted of 32 men, 51 women and 10 children.
By 8 p.m., Langsa officials decided to reboard the refugees onto the bus and send them back to Bireuen, located about 200 kilometers from the city.
Kontras Aceh coordinator Azharul Husna criticized Langsa officials’ decision, stating it violated Article 31 of the Presidential Regulation on the handling of foreign refugees, which mandates government agencies to ensure safe conditions for refugees and protect them from potential criminal activity.
"Sending the refugees back to their pickup location was a misguided move that put their safety at risk. It is completely unacceptable for the Langsa City Government to take such action," she said.
