500 Asylum Seekers Ordered to Leave by Force Today
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5 September 2019 08:37 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Around 500 asylum seekers staying in the ex-Kodim building in Kalideres, West Jakarta will be ordered to leave by force today, September 5.
“The building must be empty by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. So it’ll be closed,” said an officer of the emergency response unit (Tagana) Iwan via a phone call with Tempo, Thursday, September 5.
According to Iwan, the Tagana officers are forced to conduct relocation even though the refugees refuse.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with the help of Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police, and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel are set to secure the transfer process. Besides, Jakarta Metro Police also deploy one troop.
“The regional police have mobilized a troop since yesterday,” Iwan added.
Most of the refugees who decline to be moved come from Afghanistan at 457 people, while others from Pakistan (35 people), and Iraq (8 people).
Hundreds of the asylum seekers protested the relocation on Monday, September 2, accusing UNHCR of being unfair and slow in helping their transfer to the third country. They demanded justice and a place for living to UNHCR.
MUH HALWI
