“Arrival of Rohingya refugees in Aceh, Indonesia”
On 7 September 2020, Dr. James Gomez spoke to Al Jazeera News, from Singapore, on the Rohingya refugees’ and asylum seekers’ arrival in Aceh, Indonesia. Dr. Gomez noted that as this occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, “it’s allowing governments in Thailand, Malaysia and even Indonesian authorities to irresponsibly push back.” He further noted that such actions can be justified on the “anxieties of their citizens around health concerns”. He suggests it’s best to put in place COVID-19 health protocols to receive refugees rather than turning them away.
Watch the interview here.