By: Arifin *)
” I am grateful for the good response from the government and people of Indonesia to assist humanitarian needs, ” said Thomas Vargas , Representative of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ) Indonesia after meeting Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Vice President ‘s office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (20/05/2015), reported by the Tribun News.com .
He also appreciates the rescue Indonesia that has been done so far for thousands of refugees from Myanmar.”Rohingya refugees must be saved,” said Thomas Vargas.
In separately, Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) order to accommodate all Rohingya refugees who floats in the sea.
“I ordered foreign minister and minister of Politics and Security to accommodate all of the Rohingya refugees,” said JK Indonesian reporters in Tokyo this afternoon (21/05/2015).
JK assume that Indonesia allow people who have been dying was left to die, “We are savage, if we let them die. Where are our human instincts?” he stressed.
Earlier, reported by kompas.com, the Indonesian government provide additional funds to help tackle the problem of the Rohingya refugees. Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to accommodate the refugees it for a while.
The vice president said, according to the second principle of Pancasila, the state is obliged to provide humanitarian assistance. He also said that the government will provide direct assistance to refugees such as providing food and medicine
Reuters noted, about 2,500 immigrants have landed in Malaysia and Indonesia over the past week. While about 5,000 others remain at sea in a wooden boat with food and water supplies are dwindling.
*) The Author is Jakarta Regional Contributors