Nearly 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers live in a state of limbo in Indonesia, remaining at the margins of society as they face dim prospects for resettlement elsewhere. Long a country of transit and emigration, Indonesia is ill-equipped to deal with this population. It is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and so has no international legal obligation to provide services to migrants seeking protection. Despite a 2016 regulation outlining how to manage arrival and provide basic accommodation and emergency services for those seeking protection, local authorities have been hesitant to draw on their own funds. Without money or government recognition, the newcomers suffer from a lack of basic services, and are unable to legally work, access formal education, or use other public goods.

Seventy-one percent of refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia come from just three countries: Afghanistan, Somalia, and Myanmar (those arriving from the latter mostly ethnic Rohingya). The newcomers hoped that their stay in Indonesia would be a short one, aiming for resettlement in Australia or other Western countries. While Australia accepts refugees through its resettlement program (in 2018, its resettlement of 12,706 refugees ranked third in global resettlement), the country’s position toward those in Indonesia has changed. In 2000, Australia, Indonesia, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed an agreement whereby Australia would provide funding to the Indonesian government and IOM to intercept and assist asylum seekers transiting through the country on their way to Australia. Those who were found in need of protection would be referred for resettlement, with many ending up in Australia.

But as Australia hardened its policies toward the arrival of boat people, such resettlements became increasingly difficult. In 2014, the country ended resettlement of asylum seekers or refugees registered in Indonesia, on the grounds that the prospect for resettlement encouraged people to travel to Indonesia as a way-station to Australia. To further discourage irregular migrants and smuggling operations, in 2018 Australia cut off funding under the 2000 agreement with IOM and Indonesia.

Without support from the Australian and Indonesian governments, international organizations, or local authorities, these migrants in Indonesia are stranded, with few resources or prospects. Indeed, reports of migrants suffering from severe physical and mental health issues have surfaced. During the summer, several hundred took to living on the street outside of UNHCR Indonesia’s offices in central Jakarta before being relocated to a temporary shelter in the western part of the city, despite protests staged by local residents. By August 31, the newcomers were told to leave the shelter, as funding had run out. During the past few weeks, individuals seeking protection have once again moved to the sidewalks outside the UNHCR offices, staging demonstrations.

In the face of such frustrating circumstances, some have taken matters into their own hands. The Refugee Learning Center was founded by refugees in 2015 to provide educational services while also acting as a place for the community to gather. Entrepreneurship training has been conducted by Indonesian businesspeople interested in helping refugees and asylum seekers become self-sufficient. However, a patchwork of programs will do little to assist this population in the long term. Without a clear path toward integration in Indonesia or resettlement in a third country, challenges will persist.

Best regards,

Alexandra Vranas-Carita

Editor, Migration Information Source