ROHINGYA IN EAST ACEH RECOVERING FROM ORDEAL

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000205

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS, INR/EAP, PRM/ANE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF SOCI ID
SUBJECT: ROHINGYA IN EAST ACEH RECOVERING FROM ORDEAL

REF JAKARTA 0039


1. (SBU) Summary. Consulate Medan staff brought sports equipment in
a February 5 visit to the East Aceh site camp of the 198 Rohingya
that were rescued off of the coast of Aceh on February 3. The
Rohingya seemed to be recovering from their ordeal well thanks to
efforts by local officials, the Indonesian Red Cross, and the
generosity of the local community. Some 22 Rohingya remain
hospitalized for a variety of reasons related to their ordeal or
abuse received prior. The Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs
(Deplu) arrived on February 4 to conduct interviews of the Rohingya
at the East Aceh site. UNHCR has been promised access to this group
in the near future. End Summary.

2. (SBU) Consulate Medan FSN staff traveled to Idie Rayeuk
sub-district in East Aceh District on February 5 to meet with local
officials, donate sports equipment for use by the Rohingya, and
observe conditions at the camp and local hospital where the Rohingya
were staying. Medan staff met local official M. Amin and handed
over sports equipment for the Rohingya at the sub-district office in
a private meeting. The local officials were very appreciative of
the equipment since the Rohingya population had no recreational
equipment to keep them occupied.


3. (U) Locals in East Aceh have been generous in both donations and
in-kind contributions of clothing and other basic necessities for
the Rohingya. Medan staff also witnessed one local religious leader
(ulama) who, according to M. Amin, could speak Urdu and was
communicating with the Rohingya. Tents provided by local government
and the Ministry of Social Welfare (Depsos) were adequate. Also
assisting were local boy scouts and young members of the Indonesian
Red Cross (PMI).


4. (U) The local government, local Social Affairs office, and
citizens have combined their efforts to provide rice for the
Rohingya. PMI coordination of the relief activites seemed
well-established but coordination among local agencies was less well
organized.


5. (SBU) The average age of the all-male Rohingya group was
estimated at around 40 years old, while about 15 of the group were
teenagers and 3 appeared to under 10 years old. Some 22 of the
Rohingya were still hospitalized as of February 5 at the local
general hospital with various ailments. Most of the health issues
were digestive problems, but some suffered from bruises and injuries
caused by beating and caning (claimed by the Rohingya to have been
received at the hands of Thai security forces before they left
Thailand).


6. (U) Local radio in Aceh and North Sumatra broadcast a statement
on the morning of February 5 by a spokesperson for the Indonesian
Foreign Ministry hesitating to draw any early conclusions on the
reasons of the departure of the Rohingya from their homeland and
providing no comment on next steps by the Indonesian government in
the case.


7. (SBU) Access control to the Rohingya was put in place on
February 5 by Deplu officials. These officials cordoned off the area
and limited public and media access while conducting their
interviews of the Rohingya. One military officer from the Aceh
Iskandar Muda Military Command was observed at the camp along with 5
local police tasked to secure the area. All Rohingya were given
badges with their name and origin information. At the same time, all
guests were required to report to Deplu staff before being given
permission to enter the camp.


8. (U) Deplu has promised UNHCR access in the near future, at which
time a thorough assessment with interpreters will be possible. In
the meantime, the community and the GOI are taking very good care of
the boat people.

HUME