RI TO EXTEND INTERNMENT OF ROHINGYAS IN INDONESIA

Jakarta, March 17 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government stated here on Monday it would allow 400 Rohingya refugees to remain in Aceh until a final solution of their problem was reached.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the statement during a meeting with visiting Prime Minister Thein Sein of Myanmar at the palace that day.
"The President stated the internment for the 400 Rohingyas in Aceh would be extended for humanitarian assistance purposes until a final solution was found," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.
He said Indonesia would not only cooperate with Myanmar but would also involve world organizations such as the UNHCR and the IOM in dealing with the problem.
President Yudhoyono, he said, considered the need for a practical solution to their problem.
"As it was known Asean leaders in a recent summit in Hua Hin agreed on the need of a regional solution to solve the problem involving their countries of origin, transit countries and countries of destination," he said.
Prime Minister Sein meanwhile said, according to Dino, that the Myanmarese government had given much attention to the problem.
The Myanmarese government was also aware of the great attention that the region had given to the problem. "In principle they are willing to accept the people so long as they can prove they are citizens of Myanmar as some of them indeed come from Bangladesh and other regions," he said.
Dino said from several people that had been examined only one could show an identity to prove that he was indeed a Myanmarese citizen.
"They said the opportunity would remain open and in principle if they can prove they live in Myanmar they will be accepted well. Soon there will be a visit by an UNHCR delegation to Myanmar and President Yudhoyono had supported it," Dino said.
The Rohingyas totalling 391 had been left stranded in the sea for several days by the Thai security authorities and were now accomodated in Aceh.
They arrived in two batches on January 7, 2008 totalling 193 and on February 3 totalling 198.
The first batch was accomodated on the Weh Island in Sabang while the second batch in Ide Rayeuk in East Aceh.
The Indonesian government for the time being accomodated the boat people and facilitated them with humanitarian assistance including health care, lodging and food.
Some quarters in the country had urged the government to accept the refugees but the government said it would have problems if it had to help them for too long.
Indonesia will again host a ministerial conference on illegal immigrants including the Rohingya case in Bali on April 14-15.