Fears for Rohingya boatpeople detained on Indonesian island
Fears have been raised about the welfare of 193 Rohingya boatpeople who have been detained in Aceh for more than two months, with some reportedly attempting to escape from the Indonesian Navy base where they are being held.
Munawar Liza Zein, mayor of Sabang Island where the group is being held, said he had regular access to the men, some of whom were struggling to cope after their ordeal. They were rescued on January 7 after being shipwrecked on nearby Rondo Island, having been cast adrift in a powerless boat by the Thai military on or about December 11.
'The refugees are in good physical health, but their mental state is starting to deteriorate,' Mr Munawar said. 'We have been noticing some cases of depression. Some of them have also attempted to escape from the camp, although we found them afterwards.'
He added that if left unchecked, this development could create a security problem.
'This is dangerous. If we don't take action, it will create another kind of problem. That's why we hope the central government will act quickly and separate the refugees into different camps, according to their motives,' he said.
The Indonesian government has announced that the 193 boatpeople, as well as a second group of 198 Rohingya rescued on February 3, will remain in Aceh until a decision is made on where they will be permanently settled.
The boatpeople were first classified as economic migrants by the Indonesian government. But a second verification process by the International Organisation for Migration stated that not all of them were in the same situation.
'That is why we need a third verification by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,' Mr Munawar said. No date had been set for this third assessment he added.
'Some of the refugees are afraid to be sent home and say that if that happens, their lives would be in danger, but others want to go home. They should be separated,' he said.
The Muslim Rohingya are believed to originate from the border areas of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Many say they flee to Bangladesh from persecution in Myanmar.
Sabang Deputy Mayor Islamuddin said food reserves set aside for the boatpeople were dwindling.
'The food has been provided by non-governmental organisations based in Jakarta and Turkey as well as by the local administration. But what we have is only enough to feed the refugees for one more month,' he told the official Antara news agency.
The Sabang administration has repeatedly asked for more help from the central government in caring for the Rohingya. The second group of 198 Rohingya is being held in Idi Rayeuk, in East Aceh regency. They also claim to have been set adrift by the Thai military.
The decision to allow the Rohingya to remain while their status is confirmed was announced by presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal on Monday after a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Myanmese Prime Minister General Thein Sein, who yesterday ended a two-day state visit in Jakarta, his first since taking office in 2007.
