“When I looked up, I could only see the sky wherever I looked, and when I looked down, it was water as far as my eyes could see. There were no signs of land around us and I started fearing for the worst. I felt isolated from the rest of the world, without anyone to help me.”
30-year-old woman, travelled from Bangladesh to Indonesia
Banda Aceh, Indonesia (27 June 2024) – Escalating violence and persecution against Myanmar’s Rohingya minority have driven nearly one million refugees into neighbouring countries, primarily Bangladesh. While Cox’s Bazar camp provides temporary refuge, conditions there are dire: overcrowding, limited movement, human trafficking, violence, and the constant threat of natural disasters. Rohingya refugees lack access to healthcare, education, and employment, forcing many to undertake dangerous sea journeys to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The Rohingya Oral History Archives or ROHA, a joint project by civil society organisations in Asia-Pacific and supported by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC), is developed to preserve the voices, memories, and perspectives of Rohingya refugees through oral history. A collaboration that started on June 2023 between Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), KontraS Aceh, Geutanyoe Foundation, KontraS Sulawesi in Indonesia, Beyond Borders Malaysia, and the Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) in Thailand, ROHA has documented 108 stories from Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia – firsthand accounts that reveals the human impact of the crisis and provide crucial insights for policymakers. The archive was also informed by stories previously gathered by AJAR and partners from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and parts of Myanmar.
On Thursday, 27 June 2024, in the spirit of World Refugee Day, AJAR, a preliminary report drawing from hundreds of firsthand accounts from Rohingya communities across the region, is launched for a limited audience, titled, We Are Just Floating on Water Without an Identity. The launching aims to share the current findings on the situation of the Rohingya refugees in three neighbouring countries and recommendations based on field documentation and interviews.
In her opening remarks, Galuh Wandita, Executive Director of AJAR, highlighted the growing consensus among organisations regarding the severity of the situation and the urgent need for coordinated regional action to address the escalating crisis faced by Rohingya refugees in South-East Asia. “Through collaborations, we have gained a more nuanced understanding of the Rohingya’s plight in ASEAN. Their situation is deteriorating, with ongoing deprivation of their fundamental human rights. It is increasingly important to ensure a comprehensive regional approach to address this situation.”
Research teams from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand presented their findings and recommendations, highlighting how the stories shared by Rohingya communities in each country unveiled shared challenges faced, including limited access to healthcare, education, and employment. Putri Kanesia from AJAR highlighted some key recommendations, which were centred on the need for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol. “We urge the three countries to provide formal legal frameworks and protections for Rohingya refugees, such as access to healthcare, education, sufficient food, clean water, and sanitation. It is also essential to provide recognition of refugee status for the Rohingya, so both ASEAN members and AICHR are endorsed to ensure access to legal protections and social assistance,” she explained.
In Indonesia, research findings revealed dire conditions in refugee camps and the inadequacy of existing government assistance. Since mid-November 2023, 13 boats carrying 1,964 refugees – mostly women and children – have reached Aceh and North Sumatra. However, there’s also a record of community rejection against the refugees in December 2023, and inadequate regulations highlight the urgent need for policy reform to effectively address the refugee crisis. Azharul Husna of KontraS Aceh stressed the necessity of revising Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 to empower local authorities to provide adequate accommodation and support.
In addition, Al Fadhil of Geutanyoe Foundation highlighted the important need for the education of refugees. “Rohingya refugees only receive basic informal education. While there are some people who have continued their formal education in Indonesia, this is a very small number. Yayasan Geutanyoe, with support from the IOM, has been running basic English and Indonesian courses, but these continue to be informal.”
In Makassar, where a government-appointed refugee shelter operates, Nur Wahid of Kontras Sulawesi highlighted the lack of work opportunities as a significant challenge faced by Rohingya refugees. While a monthly allowance is provided, it proves insufficient to meet their needs. Existing Indonesian law restricts foreign citizens from working legally, leaving refugees with limited options for self-sufficiency. Despite these challenges, Indonesia’s cultural and religious similarities to their homeland have made it a sought-after destination for many Rohingya refugees. The escalating influx necessitates the Indonesian government to uphold the rights and dignity of Rohingya refugees by ensuring they receive comprehensive protection and assistance as well as humanitarian access.
In Malaysia, Mageswary Ramakrishnan from Beyond Borders Malaysia emphasized a critical concern affecting the Rohingya: the loss of language and culture, compounded by growing xenophobia and racism. She underscored the pivotal role ASEAN can play in addressing the regional crisis and expressed hope that Malaysia, as the upcoming ASEAN chair, will prioritise Rohingya refugee rights She stated, “The Prime Minister of Malaysia has pledged to protect the Rohingya. With Malaysia holding the ASEAN upcoming chairmanship, we expect them to prioritize Rohingya refugees rights in the region.”
Nattamon Supornvate, representing the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) Thailand, highlighted the critical issue of Rohingya refugees’ ongoing struggles to prove their citizenship in Myanmar. This lack of official recognition leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, including forced labour and extortion by authorities. She cited instances where Rohingya refugees face deportation due to their inability to pay bribes. She urged the Thailand Government: “The Thailand government should ensure that all Rohingya refugees, including vulnerable groups, have access to the National Screening Mechanism without facing discrimination and recognize their refugee status through UNHCR.”
During the event, Maria Begum, the founder of the Rohingya Youth Association in Southeast Asia (RAISA), highlighted the dire situation in Rakhine State, where Rohingya people endure severe persecution. There has been widespread hate speech, dissemination of fake news, and misinformation specifically targeting the Rohingya. This misinformation among Rakhine ethnic groups contributes to hate crimes and harassment against them. Begum stressed the urgent need for international action to stop the violence in Rakhine and provide protection for the Rohingya people.
The report launch event featured representatives from human rights organisations across the region, including the National Commissions on Human Rights in Indonesia and Thailand, Komnas Perempuan (the Indonesia National Commission on Violence Against Women), and the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). Responding to the findings, they acknowledged the challenges in obtaining official recognition for Rohingya refugee status and the need to utilise the existing UN international convention to fill the gap in protecting Rohingya refugees in the country. There is also an urgent need to provide attention to the situation of key vulnerability, including Rohingya women and children. Key recommendations included fostering solidarity among civil society organizations across borders and improving interactions between Rohingya refugees and local communities to counteract increasing xenophobia.
At the end of the event, during a teleconference, one Rohingya refugee in Cox’s Bazar camp reflected on the importance of this project in developing a more comprehensive perspective of the situation faced by Rohingya in ASEAN. “This finding is more than just a document—it tells the story of Rohingya people, it tells the story of their journey and of their struggles. It is important to document the story of our people from violence to safety.”
As part of this launch, AJAR, together with ROHA partners, also held a series of meetings with Aceh governments to encourage local authorities to enhance refugee protection in Indonesia.