FROM SELANGOR, MALAYSIA: Indonesian authority is eager to know the present condition of the rescued Bangladeshi people in last May particularly about the 147 people who were sent to home by them.

After attending at a regional conference on migration held in hotel Mine Wells of Selangor on Thursday, International Director of NGO Yayasan Geutanyoe Lilianne Fan presented a picture of the rescued people to banglanews.

She informed that the Indonesian fishermen rescued 1744 boat people, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, in between May 10 to May 20 from the sea of Aceh province of Indonesia.

The Indonesian government at that time considered the Rohingyas as refugees and Bangladeshis as the victim of human trafficking. These people were floating on the sea for one month, says Lilianne Fan.

Fan informed that the Indonesian government has decided to retain the Rohingyas for one year and the Bangladeshis will be sent back to their homeland.

At present, there are 1597 refugees and victims of migration seekers are staying in Aceh province. A Bangladeshi youth aged 25 died on last May 18 at Aceh Utara. Another Rohingya minor baby aged 3-month died on last May 20.

She informed that all Bangladeshi victims of human trafficking are male. The trafficked people are now staying in four administrative areas of Aceh province.

At present, 231 Bangladeshis are staying in North Aceh. Of them, 19 have been sent to their country. They were rescued on last May 10, Lilianne Fan added.

A large number of rescued Bangladeshis are now staying in Langsa municipality. 308 people, who were rescued on May 15, were given shelter there. Of them, 128 Bangladeshis have been sent back to their country meanwhile.

Quoting rescued people, now staying in Langsa, Fan informed that the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis had engaged in serious clash while on boat. Serious wounds were found on their bodies when the Indonesian fishermen rescued them.

About 100 people died in the boat due to the clash, learnt from the rescued people.

60 survivors were treated at the Langsa general hospital between 15 and 25 May. Because some were wounded from fighting but some were not, only suffering from physical conditions on boat. Patients suffered from various conditions including dehydration, malnutrition, bone fractures, respiratory problems and trauma. There was at least one attempted suicide. The Langsa general hospital covered all the costs of the treatment which amounted to more than USD 12,000.

No one of the nine Bangladeshis, who were rescued on same day at Tamiang, were brought back home yet.

All of 92 Bangladeshis, who were rescued on May 20, are now staying at West Aceh camp. These people were suffering from malnutrition, dehydration and torture of the traffickers’ agents.

This human rights worker informed that before rescue they had to remain unfed for few days while in sea.

These rescued refugees and migrated people are now living in tents set up on private land in West Aceh. However, the local government would soon shift them to government land. All Bangladeshis rescued in Indonesia are above 26 years of age.

Fan said, ‘I got two Bangladeshi religious priests who are about 50 years of age. Earlier, these two were migrated labors into Saudi Arabia. After facing problems in Saudi Arabia, they returned to country and then took the voyage to Malaysia on boat’.

Many trafficking victims are below 18, including a 12 year old boy who was sold to traffickers by his own relatives.

She also said, ‘There are several issues. First, we are concerned about the protection of Bangladeshi trafficking victims and how they will be supported when they return. Second, we are concerned about the livelihoods of the returnees back in Bangladesh so we hope to work with local civil society groups in Bangladesh to support them.’

Fan went on saying, ‘Lastly, there are some Bangladeshi survivors in Aceh whose families have not been contacted yet, so this will mean they cannot be repatriated yet. We hope that local authorities and organisations in Bangladesh can cooperate with agencies in Indonesia on these cases.’

Ramadan food provided by IOM and also local organisations including Geutanyoe Foundation.

She stressed the need for coordinated efforts among the South and South East Asian countries to check human trafficking.

BDST: 1125/1310 HRS, JULY 10, 2015
Edited by Shahjahan/RS