Protest in Indonesia's Aceh province against growing Rohingya refugee numbers

In Aceh province, Indonesia, over 200 students staged a protest outside the provincial parliament, urging lawmakers to reject the increasing number of Rohingya refugees arriving by boat. The Rohingya, who fled violence in Myanmar and left camps in Bangladesh seeking better lives, have faced hostility from some residents in Aceh. Since November, more than 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh, prompting concerns about social and economic disruptions in the community.

Protesters chanted "Get out Rohingya!" and criticized the government and the UN refugee agency for perceived failures in managing the refugee arrivals. The demonstrators also burned tires on the street, urging immediate action from the parliament speaker to remove Rohingya refugees from Aceh.

In response to the rising tension, President Joko Widodo's government is under pressure to address the issue. Indonesia, which once tolerated Rohingya refugees while neighboring countries pushed them away, is now grappling with growing hostility from some of its citizens. Police in Banda Aceh named two additional suspected human smugglers from Bangladesh and Myanmar, charging the captain, a Rohingya refugee himself, with trafficking.

President Widodo expressed concerns about a surge in human trafficking contributing to the increase in Rohingya arrivals. Efforts to repatriate Rohingya to Myanmar have failed due to doubts about ensuring their safety, as they face discrimination and lack citizenship rights in the Buddhist-majority country.