Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JAKARTA52
2009-01-12 09:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
BURMESE AND BANGLADESHI REFUGEES IN ACEH
how-toVZCZCXRO4516 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #0052 0120948 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 120948Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1204 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5823 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2945 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5321 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3504 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1566 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2591 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 4164 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3417 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1570 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 3233 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 1407 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7858 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000052
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF ID
SUBJECT: BURMESE AND BANGLADESHI REFUGEES IN ACEH
REF: JAKARTA 39
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 000052
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF ID
SUBJECT: BURMESE AND BANGLADESHI REFUGEES IN ACEH
REF: JAKARTA 39
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Over 190 Burmese and Bangladeshi refugees
continue to be housed in an Indonesian military camp in
Sabang off the coast of Aceh in north-western Sumatra Island.
The GOI is reviewing what to do about the refugees who were
rescued last week after their boat broke down. Mission has
been in touch with the GOI and UNHCR about the situation.
END SUMMARY.
3. (C) HOUSED OFF SUMATRA: The 177 Burmese and 16
Bangladeshi nationals continue to be housed at an Indonesian
naval base located on Wei island at the Sabang Naval Base in
northern Sumatra. Indications are that the refugees were
heading to Malaysia. Consulate Medan officer spoke to
contacts who said the refugees' boat encountered a Thailand
Navy patrol boat and then fled to deeper waters in an effort
to escape detection. Rough seas incapacitated the boat,
which was eventually rescued by fishermen.
4. (C) Contacts report that the refugees are all Muslim
males, most aged between 25 to their early 40s. The GOI has
granted the refugees medical care and some have been taken to
hospitals in the region. The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) has been providing blankets and other
supplies to the refugees via the Indonesian chapter of the
Red Crescent/Red Cross.
5. (C) UN NOT INVOLVED YET: A contact at the Jakarta office
of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
told POLOFF that it has not yet been contacted by Indonesian
officials to assist in the situation. The UNHCR has been in
contact with Indonesian Immigration officials in order to
monitor the refugees' condition, however. In previous cases,
the GOI has given the UNHCR permission to interview and
adjudicate Burmese refugee asylum claims.
6. (C) GOI REACTION: On January 12, Pol/C spoke with Tri
Sukma "Nanu" Djamdam, an advisor to President Yodhoyono.
Djamdam said the GOI is reviewing the cases and will take
appropriate action after it thoroughly investigates the
refugees' claims. He said the Burmese nationals appear to be
members of the Rohingya ethnic group.
7. (C) POLOFF also raised the situation with the Southeast
Asia Desk at the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs
(DEPLU). Officials told POLOFF that DEPLU officers had met
with the refugees and that the GOI was reviewing the matter.
No decision had yet been made on how to handle them, although
the GOI continues to hold interagency meetings focused on the
issue. Indonesian parliamentarians are scheduled to visit
the refugees soon, according to press reports.
HEFFERN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF ID
SUBJECT: BURMESE AND BANGLADESHI REFUGEES IN ACEH
REF: JAKARTA 39
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Over 190 Burmese and Bangladeshi refugees
continue to be housed in an Indonesian military camp in
Sabang off the coast of Aceh in north-western Sumatra Island.
The GOI is reviewing what to do about the refugees who were
rescued last week after their boat broke down. Mission has
been in touch with the GOI and UNHCR about the situation.
END SUMMARY.
3. (C) HOUSED OFF SUMATRA: The 177 Burmese and 16
Bangladeshi nationals continue to be housed at an Indonesian
naval base located on Wei island at the Sabang Naval Base in
northern Sumatra. Indications are that the refugees were
heading to Malaysia. Consulate Medan officer spoke to
contacts who said the refugees' boat encountered a Thailand
Navy patrol boat and then fled to deeper waters in an effort
to escape detection. Rough seas incapacitated the boat,
which was eventually rescued by fishermen.
4. (C) Contacts report that the refugees are all Muslim
males, most aged between 25 to their early 40s. The GOI has
granted the refugees medical care and some have been taken to
hospitals in the region. The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) has been providing blankets and other
supplies to the refugees via the Indonesian chapter of the
Red Crescent/Red Cross.
5. (C) UN NOT INVOLVED YET: A contact at the Jakarta office
of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
told POLOFF that it has not yet been contacted by Indonesian
officials to assist in the situation. The UNHCR has been in
contact with Indonesian Immigration officials in order to
monitor the refugees' condition, however. In previous cases,
the GOI has given the UNHCR permission to interview and
adjudicate Burmese refugee asylum claims.
6. (C) GOI REACTION: On January 12, Pol/C spoke with Tri
Sukma "Nanu" Djamdam, an advisor to President Yodhoyono.
Djamdam said the GOI is reviewing the cases and will take
appropriate action after it thoroughly investigates the
refugees' claims. He said the Burmese nationals appear to be
members of the Rohingya ethnic group.
7. (C) POLOFF also raised the situation with the Southeast
Asia Desk at the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs
(DEPLU). Officials told POLOFF that DEPLU officers had met
with the refugees and that the GOI was reviewing the matter.
No decision had yet been made on how to handle them, although
the GOI continues to hold interagency meetings focused on the
issue. Indonesian parliamentarians are scheduled to visit
the refugees soon, according to press reports.
HEFFERN