Indonesia Calls On Asean Cooperation To Address Boat People Problem

Rohingya Peopla Are Standing In Row Queuing For Foods In Aceh, Indonesia

Jakarta - Indonesia has called on Asean countries to work together to address the problem of boat people, which in the last two months has had Indonesia providing refuge for 391 boat people believed to be Rohingyas from Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the boat people landed in groups on islands near Aceh and were given temporary refuge, while some received treatment at the hospitals.

In light of this, he urged their country or countries of origin to address the factors that made these people flee their country in boats to seek asylum in other countries.

"The measures should include putting an end to human rights abuses against minorities, while the boat people must not be physically harmed when on transit in another country or chased out to sea," he told a press conference, here, Friday.

He said the problem of boat people seeking asylum would indeed burden other countries in the Asean grouping.

Hassan said all the Asean countries were bound by the Asean Charter which became effective on Dec 15 last year, and the principles of the charter included upholding international law with respect to human rights, social justice and multilateral trade, besides emphasizing regional cooperation.

Other than urging all the Asean member states to find a solution to the Rohingya refugee problem, Hassan said the Indonesian government was also undertaking other diplomatic measures by increasing cooperation with international organisations like the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and International Committee of the Red Cross.

"The Indonesian government is consistently looking at the problem as an international problem, and resolving it should involve the participation of the refugees‘ country of origin, the transit countries and receiving countries," he said.

He added that Indonesia was trying to get the ministerial meeting, known as the Bali Process, to be brought forward to discuss the issue of human trafficking. The meeting has been scheduled for June.

Hassan also announced that US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was scheduled to visit Indonesia from Feb 18 to 19 and meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss improving bilateral relations.

Clinton‘s first official visit to the region will also include Japan, South Korea and China.

Source: Bernama.com
Photo Credit: Kompas.com - Mahdi Muhammad

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