Approximately 140 Rohingya Muslims, mainly women and children, are stranded off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh Province in a precarious situation. They arrived on a wooden vessel from Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, three individuals having perished during the grueling journey. Community resistance is, though, high; local fishermen, recalling previous unrest, are unwilling to let the refugees disembark despite their deteriorating condition.
The Rohingya, known for fleeing persecution in Myanmar, left Bangladesh on Oct. 9, intending to reach Malaysia. Though provided with essential sustenance by locals and the UN refugee agency, many remain stranded. According to local authorities, initial reports suggest that the vessel departed Bangladesh with 216 passengers, but 50 reportedly disembarked earlier in Riau province. Meanwhile, Aceh police apprehended three individuals for suspected human smuggling.
The Rohingyas' plight reflects their larger struggle as stateless people. Nearly a million reside in Bangladesh as refugees from Myanmar, with around 740,000 driven out of Myanmar in 2017 following intense security operations. Indonesia, similar to neighboring countries Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and doesn't officially have to accommodate refugees. However, history shows the nation often provides temporary refuge. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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