Indonesian fishermen save over 700 refugees drifted in Aceh waters

More than 700 Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees were saved by fishermen in Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh on Friday morning and were now sheltered in facilities provided by Aceh regional government.

Provincial capital Langsa city's police chief Sunarya said that based on the information he obtained, those refugees were saved by local fishermen who sailed to the sea early in the morning.

"According to the fishermen, the stricken boat the refugees boarded in was almost capsized. There were six boats taking part to save those refugees," Sunaryo was quoted as saying by reports from agencies.

According to Sunaryo, those refugees were the ones who were previously expelled by Thailand and Malaysian navies from harboring in those two countries.

Indonesian military spokesperson Fuad Basya said on Tuesday that Indonesian navy had actually encountered that boat located about 7 to 10 miles off Aceh coast. Fuad said that they were told not to land in Indonesian territory, gave those refugees food supplies and fuels to facilitate them continuing their trip.

"They were still in the middle of the sea. The policy made by Indonesian military commander told us to prevent those (refugees) who are still in the middle of the sea from entering Indonesian waters," Fuad said.

Langsa immigration official Samsul Bahri said on Friday that the number of Rohingya refugees saved by the fishermen earlier in the day were 712. He added that activities to evacuate them from the port were underway.

Previously on Sunday, 582 Rohingya refugees were also brought in to North Aceh district by local fishermen. They were now sheltered in a fish auction place located in Kuala Cangkoi, North Aceh in Aceh province after they were moved on Wednesday from temporary shelter located in a public sports facility. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provides food and facilitates health treatment for the refugees who suffer from illness.

Dozens of them were treated in a local hospital of Cut Meutia in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh. Officials from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and Indonesian immigration agency were now collecting data on those refugees.

Indonesia has pledged to provide help for the refugees as the nation adheres the non-refoulement principle, even it did not sign the 1951 International Convention on Refugee Status.

"If refugees have entered Indonesian territory and need help, we would provide the help. Just like for those 582 people landed on May 10. If similar situation occur again in the future, we would do the same thing," Indonesian foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said on Wednesday.

The Non-refoulement principle forbids a nation to reject and send refugees or asylum seekers to free territory but their lives were threatened by race, religious or nationalities issues. Endi