Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JAKARTA128
2009-01-23 10:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN INDONESIA
how-toVZCZCXRO3459 OO RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHJA #0128 0231051 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231051Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1304 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3566 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2630 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5870 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1590 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000128
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL FOR
GPAZ, EAP/RSP, G; NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV ID BM
SUBJECT: ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN INDONESIA
REF: JAKARTA 52
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000128
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL FOR
GPAZ, EAP/RSP, G; NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV ID BM
SUBJECT: ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN INDONESIA
REF: JAKARTA 52
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan.
Please see para 7 for action request.
2. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian government on January 23
invited the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to
assist with the safe repatriation of 193 Burmese and
Bangladeshi nationals housed in a military camp in Sabang off
the coast of Aceh, Sumatra. The GOI--which has characterized
the refugees as economic migrants--has offered IOM direct
access to the group.
3. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): IOM will assist with repatriation
only with voluntary written consent from the refugees. IOM
said donations would be needed to pay the cost of
repatriation and asked whether the USG could assist. UNHCR
is also seeking access to the group. END SUMMARY.
GOI CALLS IN IOM
4. (C) The GOI is grappling with how to deal with recent
Rohingya refugee arrivals. The Foreign Ministry's East Asia
Pacific Director Kristiarto Legowo met with IOM on January 23
to request assistance in repatriating the 193 Rohingya boat
people stranded on Sabang Island after the Indonesian Navy
rescued them on January 7 (see reftel). IOM Indonesia
Director Stephen Cook told DepPol/C that he met with Legowo
to discuss the situation. To date, access to the refugees
has been limited to the GOI and the Indonesian Red Cross
(PMI). IOM has provided medical and other humanitarian
assistance through PMI. After 28 days at sea, 81 of the boat
people required immediate medical attention. A few had
tuberculosis. Seven died at sea.
FM'S COMMENTS
5. (C) Wirajuda told the media that the boat people clearly
were economic migrants not political refugees. Legowo told
Cook that the GOI was reaching out to Burma and Bangladesh to
accept the persons back. The GOI would require Burma to sign
an agreement that they would not be persecuted. Mission has
underscored to GOI interlocutors the USG's concern that the
boat people not be subject to persecution if/when they
return. We have also urged the GOI to involve UNHCR. Most
of the 193 all-male group were Rohingyas who originated from
Mundu in northwest Burma, with about 20 apparently from
across the Burmese border in Bangladesh.
6. (C) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has
sent DEPLU a letter requesting access to the group. Cook
reminded Legaowo of how sensitively this matter must be
handled to avoid international criticism. Under
international law, they cannot be sent back unless they
voluntarily agree, even if written assurances are given by
the Burmese government. IOM will not help repatriate anyone
who has not agreed in writing, Cook told DepPol/C.
ACTION REQUEST
7. (SBU) IOM does not have a budget to pay for the cost of
repatriation since it works on earmarked funds for each
individual project. Donors are needed in this case. Cook of
IOM asked whether the USG might possibly be able to fund or
possibly partially fund any repatriations. Mission will
provide further details on IOM plans as they develop. END
ACTION REQUEST.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL FOR
GPAZ, EAP/RSP, G; NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV ID BM
SUBJECT: ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN INDONESIA
REF: JAKARTA 52
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan.
Please see para 7 for action request.
2. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian government on January 23
invited the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to
assist with the safe repatriation of 193 Burmese and
Bangladeshi nationals housed in a military camp in Sabang off
the coast of Aceh, Sumatra. The GOI--which has characterized
the refugees as economic migrants--has offered IOM direct
access to the group.
3. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): IOM will assist with repatriation
only with voluntary written consent from the refugees. IOM
said donations would be needed to pay the cost of
repatriation and asked whether the USG could assist. UNHCR
is also seeking access to the group. END SUMMARY.
GOI CALLS IN IOM
4. (C) The GOI is grappling with how to deal with recent
Rohingya refugee arrivals. The Foreign Ministry's East Asia
Pacific Director Kristiarto Legowo met with IOM on January 23
to request assistance in repatriating the 193 Rohingya boat
people stranded on Sabang Island after the Indonesian Navy
rescued them on January 7 (see reftel). IOM Indonesia
Director Stephen Cook told DepPol/C that he met with Legowo
to discuss the situation. To date, access to the refugees
has been limited to the GOI and the Indonesian Red Cross
(PMI). IOM has provided medical and other humanitarian
assistance through PMI. After 28 days at sea, 81 of the boat
people required immediate medical attention. A few had
tuberculosis. Seven died at sea.
FM'S COMMENTS
5. (C) Wirajuda told the media that the boat people clearly
were economic migrants not political refugees. Legowo told
Cook that the GOI was reaching out to Burma and Bangladesh to
accept the persons back. The GOI would require Burma to sign
an agreement that they would not be persecuted. Mission has
underscored to GOI interlocutors the USG's concern that the
boat people not be subject to persecution if/when they
return. We have also urged the GOI to involve UNHCR. Most
of the 193 all-male group were Rohingyas who originated from
Mundu in northwest Burma, with about 20 apparently from
across the Burmese border in Bangladesh.
6. (C) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has
sent DEPLU a letter requesting access to the group. Cook
reminded Legaowo of how sensitively this matter must be
handled to avoid international criticism. Under
international law, they cannot be sent back unless they
voluntarily agree, even if written assurances are given by
the Burmese government. IOM will not help repatriate anyone
who has not agreed in writing, Cook told DepPol/C.
ACTION REQUEST
7. (SBU) IOM does not have a budget to pay for the cost of
repatriation since it works on earmarked funds for each
individual project. Donors are needed in this case. Cook of
IOM asked whether the USG might possibly be able to fund or
possibly partially fund any repatriations. Mission will
provide further details on IOM plans as they develop. END
ACTION REQUEST.
HUME