Indonesian Students Storm into Rohingya Refugee Camp, Demand Deportation

Defense News ,Indonesia :- In a recent incident reported by CNN, a large group of Indonesian students surged into a convention camp in Banda Aceh city, housing Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The dramatic scene unfolded as the students, many clad in green jackets, entered the building expansive basement where Rohingya men, women, and children were seated on the floor, visibly distressed.

According to CNN coverage of the Reuters footage, the authorities subsequently evacuated the Rohingyas, some carrying their possessions in plastic sacks, using trucks to transport them to alternative shelter while the protesters observed the proceedings.

The Rohingya refugees have been facing escalating hostility and rejection in Indonesia, with locals expressing frustration over the increasing number of boats arriving with the persecuted ethnic minority from Myanmar Buddhist-majority. President Joko Widodo attributed the surge in arrivals to human trafficking and pledged to collaborate with international organizations to provide temporary shelter.

Typically, arrivals peak between November and April when the seas are calmer, prompting Rohingya to embark on boats to neighboring Thailand and Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia.

During a protest rally in Banda Aceh, 23-year-old student Wariza Anis Munandar called for the deportation of the Rohingya, emphasizing the sentiments of many locals. Another student, 20-year-old Della Masrida, stated, "They came here uninvited, they feel like it is their country," as reported by CNN.

The incident has drawn attention from the UNHCR, but as of now, there has been no immediate response from the organization. Earlier this month, the UNHCR expressed alarm over reports of rejection faced by Rohingya refugees in Indonesia.

Despite Indonesia not being a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees, the country has a history of accepting refugees upon their arrival. Rohingyas, having left Myanmar due to persecution and denial of citizenship, continue to face challenges as they seek refuge in neighboring countries.