TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is considering to gather Rohingya refugees in one island. "Only if they come in large number," said Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Friday, May 22, 2015.
Kalla said that the government has instructed Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Social Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and all governors to pay attention to Rohingya refugees.
Hundreds of muslim Rohingya in Myanmar have been murdered, causing a massive flow of migrants and asylum seekers to Myanmar's neighboring countries. Most of them fled to other Moslem majority countries in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia.
Back in 1979, Indonesia had been providing shelter for refugees of the Vietnam War. Thousands of Vietnamese were housed in Galang Island, Batam, from 1979 to 1996.
FAIZ NASHRILLAH
