A joint statement from the Cisarua Refugee Community

On the 15th December, 2021, the Cisarua Refugee community came together to write the statement below. The full statement can be downloaded at the link here

Joint Statement from Refugee-Led Initiatives in Indonesia 

15 December 2021 

Our homeland is burning in war, injustice, intimidation, and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities. In Indonesia, more than half of the 14 thousand refugees are from Afghanistan and most of them are Hazaras, a persecuted minority. We, the Hazaras of Afghanistan, fulfill three out of the five conditions which determine refugee status, as per Article 1 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. 

We are aware of the UNHCR’s three solutions for refugees: repatriation, integration in a host country, and resettlement. Considering Afghanistan’s current situation; repatriation of Hazara refugees in Indonesia is not possible. 

We cannot be integrated in Indonesia, because Indonesia is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention. We are incredibly grateful to the Indonesian government and their people for generously allowing us to live in peace. However, refugees are not allowed to work, and have limited access to education or medical care. We are unable to become citizens or permanent members of the country. 

We are registered with UNHCR in Indonesia, as per Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but the UNHCR’s Refugee Status Determination process has been extremely slow. Many refugees have not heard from the UNHCR for six years since registering as an asylum seeker. Some refugees have been in Indonesia for more than ten years. 

Ten years is not just a number. It is unlimited days of financial, mental, and social suffering, at the cost of our hopes for living a free and dignified life. We feel we are abandoned, forgotten and powerless. At least 14 refugees have taken their lives, many refugees have died due to unavailability of healthcare, and a significant number of refugees are suffering from physical and mental health issues. The recent incidents of a refugee setting himself on fire, and others sewing their lips closed, are all indicators of the community-wide suffering. 

Peaceful refugee protests are being organised in different cities in Indonesia. These protests have grown out of widespread frustration exacerbated by lack of communication from the UNHCR. 

We ask that the UNHCR and the international community recognise our situation and act on the following demands: 

1. Our first demand is for resettlement. We cannot be repatriated to Afghanistan or integrated into Indonesia. Therefore, resettlement is the only solution. 

2. We ask the Australian, US, New Zealand, and Canadian and other governments to increase their refugee intake from Indonesia and accelerate processing times. We are a skilled and determined workforce and want to join the COVID affected labour market. We can contribute to the economy of resettling countries and ask the UNHCR to advocate on our behalf. 

3. We want clarity on the UNHCR’s resettlement program in Indonesia, as outlined in their Resettlement Handbook. Inadequate communication has created misunderstanding and distress amongst the refugee community. 

4. We urge the UNHCR to address refugees’ health, particularly mental health issues. 

5. We want to work together with the UNHCR to find solutions to challenges. We reiterate our desire to participate in consultations, structuring programs, and implementation, including resettlement advocacy initiatives. Refugee-led learning centres and community leaders are ready to partner with the UNHCR. 

6. The UNHCR must engage in ongoing and proactive communication with refugees on a grassroots level, and make sure the refugees are heard. As it stands, the UNHCR only makes inadequate, symbolic appearances when prompted by protests. 

We hope that the international community and the UNHCR consider our demands. 

An act of compassion would release us from our suffering and give us hope for reuniting with our family in a free world. 

Sincerely, Joint statement is by 

Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre 

Refugee Learning Centre 

Refugee Learning Nest 

Hope Learning Centre 

Peace Educational Shelter 

Cisarua Refugee Shotokan Karate Club 

Contact 

Name: Naweed Aieen 

Email: cisaruarefugeelearningcenter@gmail.com 

Mobile: +6281372172026