MPR Speaker against Notion to Give Island to Displaced Rohingyas
29 May 2015 08:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Banda Aceh – People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Zulkifli Hasan said he was against the notion that the country should provide an island to shelter Rohingya Muslims seeking refuge in Indonesia.
“We won’t provide an island for them,” he said on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
The notion to provide a particular island for the displaced Rohingyas surfaced as the Burmese and Bangladeshi governments refused to take responsibilities over the refugees—forcing the nation to shelter thousands of them.
According to Zulkifli, designating an island for the refugees would trigger continued influx of refugees. He also said the solution to the Rohingya issue should not be detrimental to the country.
“We, however, will help save them as long as we are not victimized,” he said.
He said that the ASEAN community should convene and seek solution to the problem. “We should also invite Myanmar and Bangladesh,” he said.
He added that at present Indonesia would continue to shelter the displaced Rohingyas—albeit temporarily.
MOYANG KASIH DEWIMERDEKA