“Our families are in danger. Please act now”
Hundreds of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, mostly women and children, have been seen protesting this Monday in front of the U.N. refugee agency office in Jakarta. They were hoping to speed up the resettlement process, which, for some of them, has been ongoing for the last eight years. Banners reading “Our families are in danger. Please act now” and “Resettle refugees and save lives” could be seen in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Many asylum seekers have fled to Indonesia hoping to reach Australia from there – but since 2013, the Australian government has often sent them back. Indonesia, however, has never signed the U.N. Refugee Convention, so the government cannot offer asylum seekers any work rights and serves only as a transit country.
One of the protesters. Bibi Rahima Farhangdost, who used to be a teacher in Afghanistan, said that – after the Taliban ordered she was not allowed work outside of her house anymore – she left her job there and arrived in Indonesia in 2014. She received a refugee card from UNHCR in 2016, but – no further action was taken to help with her resettlement.
“I only stay home as I cannot work here. I feel disappointed. Eight years is a very long time,” she said.
This was the third rally the Afghans had there, the last one being in August when things had turned violent after authorities forcefully dispersed the crowd. Protesters said that the reason for them holding another rally on Monday was the unfulfilled promise they were given in August.
“We will continue this peaceful demonstration until we have a response from the UNHCR and a real solution instead of just promises,” said Bibi Rahima Farhangdos.
