Will not allow refugees to land on Indonesian territory: TNI

Jakarta (ANTARA Lampung) - Indonesia will help refugees facing difficulties in the sea but will not permit them to dock on the country's shores, Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) General Moeldoko said.

"They will not be allowed to enter our region. If they do, they may create social problems," he stated in the premises of the state palace here on Friday.

Members of the Rohingya community recently left Myanmar due to socio-political conflicts.

General Moeldoko pointed out that as long as they only passed through the Malacca Strait, the TNI will be ready to help them in case they face difficulties.

"If they have no water or food, we will help because it will then be a humanitarian problem. However, if they enter our region, it will be the TNI's duty to safeguard the country's sovereignty," he explained.

The commander referred to a problem caused by refugees from the Middle East who wished to go to Australia but were caught in Indonesia.

"Looking after our own people is no easy task. So we must not be given another burden in such cases," Moeldoko remarked.

When asked about cooperation with the UNHCR, he said it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The task of a commander is to safeguard the nation's territory to ensure that no one trespasses," he added.

The TNI commander further noted that a lot of Rohingyas were leaving their country. "If we open access, there will be an exodus here," he cautioned.

With regard to the refugees that arrived in Aceh, he stated that it was under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  "That is the domain of the minister of foreign affairs. I will not answer your question," he said.

Several local fishermen rescued a barge carrying 648 Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees, which got stranded in the Malacca Strait about 20 miles from Pusong Beach, East Aceh district, on Friday, a local immigration officer stated.

The barge carrying the refugees was towed to Kuala Langsa Port by several local fishing boats at about 5 a.m. local time, the immigration officer informed Antara here on Friday.

The refugees comprising 418 Bangladeshi men and 230 Rohingyas, including 55 children and 62 women, fled their homeland aboard two vessels. However, one of the vessels sank, and hence, all the refugees onboard the sinking boat were transferred to the barge, he pointed out.

When the refugees were found by some local fishermen, they were suffering from severe dehydration and starvation as they had been floating aboard the barge for days before being rescued, he remarked.

Personnel of the Indonesian military and police, as well as rescue workers and volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross and several civilian agencies worked together to assist the refugees.

On Sunday, a total of 587 refugees from Myanmar also got stranded in the waters of North Aceh district and were then given shelter in Kuala Cangkoi village, Lapang sub-district, North Aceh district, about 300 kilometers east of Banda Aceh city.(Ant)