IHRC is co-heading an appeal to the Indonesian president to take immediate action to protect Rohingya refugees facing violence, intimidation and hostility from its people and institutions.

Disturbing footage aired across mainstream and social media has shown Rohingyas, who have fled persecution from Myanmar, being attacked by students in Aceh as they sit huddled together in a temporary shelter.

The images show students, many wearing jackets with different universities’ insignias, running into the convention centre’s basement, chanting “Kick them out” and “Reject Rohingya in Aceh”. Women and children can be seen cowering in fear and crying while being shielded by police.

According to reports, the refugees were later transferred in trucks to another temporary facility. UNHCR said the incident had left the refugees “shocked and traumatised”.

Reports have also emerged of the Indonesian navy driving away a refugee boat laden with Rohingya refugees trying to reach Aceh. In the incident, which took place at the end of December 2023, a wooden boat was intercepted off the coast off Sumatra and shadowed out of Indonesian territorial waters.

The letter to President Widodo, which is co-written by Citizens International and signed by 15 other human rights groups from the UK and South East Asian region, reminds the Indonesian authorities of their obligation to take in and protect refugees.

It states: “The kind of hostility, racially motivated incitement and mob violence we are currently seeing against the Rohingya has no place in any civilised society, let alone a Muslim one, and must be rectified immediately.”

The full text of the letter is available to read here. [ENDS]

For more information or comment please contact the Press Office on (+44) 208 904 0222 or (+44) 7958 522196 or email media@ihrc.org

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
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