Indonesia: Indignant residents in Aceh forcefully enter shelter, expel Rohingya refugees

For the second time in three months, an aggressive and disgruntled group of residents in Indonesia’s Aceh province forced authorities to relocate dozens of newly arrived Rohingya refugees after their boat capsized near West Aceh regency, RFA reported yesterday.

According to the article, the refugees, traumatized and sobbing, were placed in a temporary shelter in Suak Nie village, where villagers protested the government’s failure to move the Rohingya as promised.

The stateless Rohingya have been fleeing violence and oppression in Myanmar, with many seeking refuge in Indonesia.

The incident occurred amid a growing number of Rohingya refugee boats arriving in Indonesia, with over 2,300 refugees arriving in 2023.

The news agency adds that the forced eviction of Rohingya refugees has sparked condemnation from activists and human rights organizations, while highlighting the spread of false information about the mostly Muslim refugees on social media.