UAS CREATIVE WRITING

PROGRAM STUDY SASTRA INGGRIS MALAM

FAKULTAS SOSIAL DAN HUMANIORA
Rohingya case comes to Indonesia

Nama: Evi Erdayanti

Nim: 20210600017
Universitas Buddhi Dharma
Headline:
Rohingya case comes to Indonesia

I. Introduction

The Rohingya conflict includes genocide crimes that have displaced many people. The
arrival of a large number of Rohingya refugees to Aceh has been in the spotlight for the
Indonesian people. It is known, around 170 Rohingya refugees arrived in Aceh, to be precise
on December 2, 2023. The arrival of a large number of Rohingya refugees to Aceh has been
in the spotlight for the Indonesian people. It is known, around 170 Rohingya refugees arrived
in Aceh, to be precise on December 2, 2023. The arrival of Rohingya refugees to Indonesia is
none other than to seek security from the conflict they are facing. In addition to attracting the
attention of the Indonesian people, this news certainly causes a feeling of concern. Where a
number of people still do not get the right to a decent life. Starting from the right to a safe
residence, the right to eat, to the right to education for children. This conflict of the Rohingya
community has long occurred and has not yet met a bright spot. However, maybe some of
you are still unfamiliar and wonder what the Rohingya are and how the origin of the conflict
is. In addition, it is also necessary to know some things that are the reasons for the
RohingyaThe history of the Rohingya ethnic originates from the arrival of Muslims from the
Bengal region in the 7th century. They settled in what is now known as Rakhine State in
Myanmar. Historically, they are recognized as one of the 135 ethnic groups in the country.
However, in recent decades, the Rohingya have faced a serious humanitarian crisis in
Myanmar. They have faced discrimination, violence, and persecution from the government
and majority of Rakhine Buddhism. The humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya population
occurred very big when it was about 2017. When Myanmar security forces launched an
attack on the Rohingya population. Which requires the Rohingya to move to another state of
Bangladesh.. Until now, the Rohingya ethnic crisis is still continuing, with many Rohingya
refugees living in refugee camps in Bangladesh and conditions that are still very difficult in
Myanmar. The treatment of the Rohingya has drawn international condemnation of the
Myanmar government and raised concerns about widespread human rights abuses.Since the
colonial era, the Rohingya have experienced discrimination and oppression from the British
colonial government and the Buddhist-majority Myanmar government. In 1982, the Myanmar
government officially refused to recognize the Rohingya as one of the country's legitimate
ethnic groups, causing them to lose citizenship rights and become unwanted people in their
own country.Inter-ethnic conflicts in Myanmar, especially with the majority of Rakhine
Buddhists, further exacerbate the existence of the Rohingya. In 2017, increasing military
violence against the Rohingya resulted in the mass search and burning of their villages, as
well as the evacuation of thousands of Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh.
This long history of Rohingya ethnic struggle shows that they continue to struggle to be
recognized as equal citizens in Myanmar, but until now they still face great challenges in
obtaining their basic rights.Security in Bangladesh has significantly affected the condition of
the Rohingya refugees. Rohingya refugees are often victims of kidnappings, attacks and other
crimes in the country. According to Amnesty International, as many as 99% of the Rohingya
refugees who had been asked for their opinion in 2018 stated that they had been victims of
crime or violence. The Bangladesh government has sought to address these security issues by
increasing patrols and security around the refugee camps. They have also been working with
the international community to address this issue. Organizations such as the United Nations
have also intervened to increase security and protection for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Despite efforts, security challenges continue to exist and the number of crime cases and
attacks against refugees is still high. This indicates the need for greater efforts to deal with
the issue effectively and thoroughly. The lack of food resources is a serious problem for
Rohingya refugees in Rakhine. Data from the World Food Program shows that food rations
for the Rohingya have been cut by 15% in June 2021. Before this cut, the food ration
received by the Rohingya was only enough to meet 60% of the daily nutritional
needs.Rohingya refugees arrived in Indonesia by boat. They fled refugee placehn in
overcrowded Bangladesh and conditions were getting worse. More and more Rohingya
refugees are leaving refugee camps in Bangladesh. Then they went across the ocean for 1,800
kilometers to Indonesia using a riety boat.
 II. Lead (5W+1H)

 What is the government’s solution to deal with the case of Rohingya refugees?

 What is the impact of the arrival of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia and their
handling?

 What is the reason for Aceh students to expel Rohingya refugees?

 Why do Rohingya people choose to educuate to Indonesia?

 Why is the Rohingya tribe considered a separatist by Myanmar government?

 Why are the Rohingya rejected by some countries?

 When will the Rohingya refugees be repatriated to their home country?

 Who brought the Rohingya refugees to Aceh,Indonesia?

 Where is the shelter for Rohingya refugees in Aceh?

 How to solve the problem of Rohingya refugees in Aceh?

 How is current situation in Aceh?

III. Body /Discussion

 What is the government’s solution to deal with the case of Rohingya

refugees?

Data collected from one of the national mass media reported that in early December, it was
recorded that 1300 Rohingya refugees arrived in Aceh. They landed in Pidie, Bireun, East
Aceh, even Sabang Island. This is certainly a dilemma for the Regional Government and the
people of Aceh, as well as the Central Government.. The problems that will arise include law,
politics, social and culture. In addition, it is also a violation of Indonesian sovereignty,
because the refugees enter Indonesia's territorial territory in an unauthorized way and
authentic travel documents. In fact, Indonesia does not have laws on refugees, does not have
a special agency that handles refugees, nor does it have a special budget for the handling of
refugees both at the central and regional levels. How many solutions are offered to deal with
the Rohingya refugee crisis in Indonesia.

 First, of course, you have to solve the problem upstream in Myanmar. This is
definitely not easy because it involves a political process and international pressure. It
takes the political will of the Myanmar regime itself to recognize the people they
ignore.

 Second, handling at the Bangladesh shelter. The conditions in the Bangladesh shelter
are indeed dense, inappropriate, and scattered with human smugglers. However, if the
authorities in the shelter are firm, the escape of the refugees by sea should be
prevented.

 Third, handling when arriving in Indonesia, there are usually only three options. First,
repatriation to the country of origin. Second, find a third country that wants to
accommodate those who are not easy and often take a long time. Third, reintegration
by accepting refugees living in Indonesia openly

 The fourth is to provide separate shelters such as Galang Island. A special island for
temporary shelters for Rohingya refugees could be an alternative. Follow-up of their
status (refugee status determination) by international bodies to find a way out can be
done separately from the area where the local community lives at the shelter location
so far.

 What is the impact of the arrival of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia and their
handling?

Indonesia was entered by a wave of Rohingya refugees who attracted the

attention of the people in Indonesia. The refugees have spread to the Aceh and
Medan areas, triggering questions about the impact and handling of the
government on the entry of Rohingya immigrants. Citing sources, Rohingya
refugees first came to Indonesia in 2009. They arrived by boat from
Bangladesh to land. Since then the Rohingya immigrants have continued to
arrive until now and caused their spread in the surrounding community. Since
the immigrants entered Indonesia, of course they have an impact in two fields,
namely social and economic. In the social field, the arrival of the refugees
causes intercultural conflicts, social tensions and changes in local culture.
Meanwhile, in the economic sector, the presence of Rohingya refugees can
make employment more narrow and economic resources disrupted. Both of
these things are a challenge for the community as well as the surrounding
 government. The government has responded about the influx of Rohingya
refugees.
According to various sources, the government has promised to prioritize the
needs of the Indonesian people in the handling and treatment of Rohingya
immigrants. The government itself has considered repatriating Rohingya
refugees to its homeland. Because the number of refugees has exceeded
thousands. Quoted from the source, the government plans to make Galang
Island in the Riau Islands a refugee camp for Rohingya immigrants. This
choice is expected to be an effective solution to manage this problem and
address the Rohingya immigration issue as a whole.

In the face of the impact of this wave of Rohingya immigrants. It is

important for the community to keep the principles of human rights and
emphasize the value of just humanity. The community is encouraged to
accommodate temporary immigrants to await further treatment taken by the
government in dealing with the fate of the Rohingya immigrants. It is
important for the community to always treat immigrants humanely and fairly.

 What is the reason for Aceh students to expel Rohingya refugees?

 The Slowness of the Government's Attitude

The cause of the expulsion of Acehnese students against Rohingya refugees

is related to the slowness of the Aceh Government in taking firm action
against this situation. A number of Rohingya immigrants have recently been
stranded on the coast of the Aceh sea, creating an increasingly complex
problem with the emergence of friction between refugees and local
communities.

 Want to Take Real Action

Acehnese students have voiced their aspirations more than once, demanding
a concrete response from the government in dealing with the issue of
Rohingya refugees. Previously, on Friday (12/22/2023), Acehn students had
held a demonstration initiated by BEM Syiah Kuala University (USK). In the
action, they emphasized the demand that the Aceh Government take real
action and not just give empty promises.
"We lift the Rohingya to the car, we deliver the Rohingya to the Ministry of
Law and Human Rights of Aceh," said Field Coordinator (Korlap) Aksi T
Wariza Ismandar, in Banda Aceh, as reported by Antara, on Wednesday
(12/28/2023).
  Considered Not Behaved Well

The student group claimed to reject the existence of Rohingya refugees

because of their bad behavior.
"We fully support the community that refuses to prevent a greater conflict
between the community and Rohingya refugees," said the Action Field
Coordinator (Korlap) from Abulyatama University, Muhammad Khalis.

 Why do Rohingya people choose to educuate to Indonesia?

Launching from the UNHCR website, for the past few decades, Rohingya people have
suffered extreme suffering in Myanmar. They are not given access to citizenship and
registration, are not allowed access to health services, education, and employment
opportunities, are restricted in camps and villages, and are subjected to extreme violence.
This caused about one million Rohingya people to gradually flee to camps in neighboring
Bangladesh. However, security conditions in overcrowded Bangladesh camps have
deteriorated over the past few years. This is what encourages them to take refuge in search of
safety and stability. Because there is no citizenship, there is no legal path that allows
Rohingya refugees to move between territories and countries easily. As a result, they chose to
use sea travel by boat offered by the perpetrators of human smuggling. In order to seek
safety, the Rohingnya refugees continue to look for a safe place to take refuge. They fled due
to despair caused by the increase in murders, kidnappings, and dangerous situations where
they previously lived. Launching from Deutsche Welle (DW) Indonesia, Rohingnya
researcher based in Cox's Bazar Rezaur Rahman Lenin said that the absence of proper
livelihoods was main cause of the genocide survivors fleeing from refugee camps. They
finally escaped to a Muslim country. According to Lenin, there are quite large organizations
in Indonesia and Malaysia. In addition, the Rohingya believe that they can obtain protection
and income in the country.

 Why is the Rohingya tribe considered a separatist by Myanmar government?

Rohingya is a minority Muslim community, which gathers in the Rakhine

(Arakan) state of Myanmar (Burma), and is expelled to refugee camps in
Bangladesh and other countries. At the beginning of the 21st century, it is
estimated that a third of the total population in Rakhine is the Rohingya.
Even though it comes from Myanmar, this tribe is considered disturbing and
debated. That's because their physical characteristics are similar to Indians.
Not only that, since the time of World War II in 1939-1945, Britain recruited
Rohingya to become soldiers and fought with the Buddhists of Myanmar, an
ally of Japan. After winning the battle, the Japanese managed to expel the
British in 1942. Since then, the Rohingya have been the target of the anger of
the Myanmar people. Considered a British ally and looks like an Indian who is
a strong reason Myanmar hates the Rohingya. Not only that, Myanmar
 considers the Rohingya to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even
though many of them have been from Myanmar for decades. As a result,
almost all Rohingya in Myanmar do not have and cannot obtain citizenship
from birth.
 Why are the Rohingya rejected by some countries?

Why are the Rohingya rejected? Because they consider them a treat.
Worrying about being a burden on the state,having bad behavior,triggering
crime,creating your own country in Indonesia,and triggering social inequality.

 When will the Rohingya refugees be repatriated to their home country?

As for the temporary shelters in Pekanbaru and Medan, it is said to be full

and running out of funds. That's why the government, he continued, will find a
solution. One of them returns them to their home country.
"We are meeting how to return to his country through the United Nations.
Because there is a representative who takes care of the refugees," said Mahfud
MD in Bekasi, West Java.
He also mentioned that Indonesia did not actually sign the UN convention on
refugees. So that the government could reject them.
"But we have humanity," said Mahfud MD.
So because of the reason for the sense of humanity, the Rohingya refugees still
cannot be repatriated to their home country.

 Who brought the Rohingya refugees to Aceh,Indonesia?

A citizen from Myanmar named Muhammad Amin is a suspect in the case of

smuggling people to Aceh,Indonesia. The 35-year-old suspect,gathered the
Rohingya people from the Cpx’s Bazar refugee camp and transforted them on
a ship.

 Where is the shelter for Rohingya refugees in Aceh?

The location of the Rohingya immigrant shelter in Aceh is in the former

Lhokseumawe Immigration Office Building and the Mina Raya Foundation
camp of Pidie Regency. According to reports, immigration shelters have been
overcapacity. In addition, there are still more than a hundred Rohingya
immigrants in Sabang. It is known that in the last month a number of coasts in
Aceh were visited by Rohingya immigrants in waves using wooden boats
allegedly from Bangladesh. In Lhokseumawe, there are already 492 refugees
living. While the ideal capacity in that place is only 220 people.
"For the current condition at the former immigration office, the shelter is now
overloaded," said the Police Chief of Lhokseumawe, AKBP Henki Ismanto to
reporters, Thursday (12/7).
 The building, he said, had an excess of up to 272 Rohingya refugees, so they
were jostling to live there.
"Ideally 220 people. Currently filled with 492 people to over 272 people," said
Henki.
Likewise, in the Rohingya shelter in the Mina Raya Foundation camp, Pidie
Regency, it is also reported that it has been over capacity.
Especially in Lhokseumawe, there are 23 Rohingya refugees who have fled
the shelter. The first wave that ran away 7 people and the second wave 16
people. They escaped by breaking the wall of the room and penetrating into
the women's bathroom, then jumping from the guardrail. Henki said, currently
his party is still conducting an investigation regarding the potential for human
trafficking in the case of the escape of the Rohingya refugees.

 How to solve the problem of Rohingya refugees in Aceh?

a. Help their departure to a third country. After all that is the biggest
dream of Rohingya refugees,. That way ,they can get citizenship.
b. Efforts to bring Rohingya refugees to the destination country can be
done by envouraging UNHRCR to provide certainty about their .
c. Urged the Myanmar government to resolve the bloody conflict that
forced the ethnic minority to leave the country.there must be a
guarantee of a sense of security fo Muslims who are a minority group.
Thus,at least stop the increasing number of ethnic Rohingya who fled
to other countries.

 How is current situation in Aceh?

Local people accuse Rohingya refugeese often making problems when they
arrive on the mainland, such as escaping from shelters and complaining when
they are given food. Maimun Fikri,a resident of Bireun Regency who now
lives in Banda Aceh,also told that the rejection of Rohingya refugeese started
from the attitude of refugees who no longer appreciate the gifts of residents.
‘’ in the past,in Bireun,the community entertained the Rohingya by
making(banquet),giving decent clothes,and sympathizing. But they fled to
Malaysia when they were healthy,’’said the 53-year-old man to
Hidayatullaah’s reporter who reported for BBC News Indonesia.
Maimun openly rejects the existence of Rohingya refugees in Aceh,especially
if the local government gives them special land.
‘’ This is already organized ,like there is an agent who deliberately brought
them over. Now it’s the government’s job to break this link.’’
Vira Ramadhani is also the same. She rejected Rohingya refugees for a long
time in Aceh. But for a while.she saw that refugees could stay for
humanitarian reasons.’’ If you stay,you don’t agree, but if given a few days
it’s okay,it’s a pity to a see them stay. ‘’ At most a week (can stay). If the
 government allows the Rohingya to settle in Aceh,we will hold a
demonstration. So we give time to the Rohingya when it’s past the time to be
expelled.’’

IV. Conclusion

The problem of the Rohingya refugee case in Aceh, Indonesia. Not a trivial
problem, this is a serious problem because it harms the people of Aceh, Indonesia.
In addition to harming the Indonesian people, this case also reduced the finances
of the Indonesian government, because it had to help Rohingya refugees. And
again, Rohingya refugees should know thank you, be aware of the people of Aceh,
Indonesia because they have been given food, where to live for medicine. Then
when they are healthy, they run away, damage the people's health, make
problems, harm the community. And again for the Indonesian government, I think
they are not firm, just because of their sense of humanity, they can't bear to
repatriate Rohingya refugees to their country. It is different, if the Rohingya
refugees act well, and do not harm, it may be reconsidered by the people of Aceh.
And again, Indonesia does not have an agreement in ASEAN to accommodate
refugees from other countries. Indonesia, to overcome the finances of its own
people, is not yet able,there are still many people who die of hunger.