Sudanese refugees protest at Australian consulate in Makassar

Sudanese refugees held a protest at the Australian Consulate in Makassar Indonesia, yesterday, Wednesday, 17 May. 

Sudanese representatives handed-over a letter (text below) to be delivered to Australian representatives at the consulate.  

The protest follows similar protests in Jakarta and Makassar last week, and one in Pekanbaru on Tuesday (16 May), calling for an end to the war in Sudan and for urgent action to ensure the resettlement of refugees in Indonesia. Refugees in Indonesia have no right to work or study, cannot leave the city to which they are confined, and are forced to survive on below-poverty support funded by Australia through IOM (International Organisation for Migration).  

Some Sudanese refugees have been stranded in Indonesia since 2011, with no prospect of resettlement. Australia has imposed a ban on accepting UNHCR refugees from Indonesia since 2014. Successive governments seem to have also imposed an undeclared ban on accepting Sudanese refugees from Indonesia at all. 

The ban has meant that most of the Sudanese have not even been interviewed by the UNHCR. 

The circumstances for the refugees have become even more urgent given the deteriorating situation in Sudan.  

“Labor is spending $420 million to maintain offshore detention on Nauru – more than $10 million for each refugee on Nauru. That money could be used to expand the humanitarian refugee program and resettle refugees from Indonesia,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713. 

Sudanese representative in Makassar available for comment on request.

Letter: 

Date: 17 May 2023

Australia Representation in Indonesia

Dear Sir or Madam

It’s very warm feeling that we experiencing towards humanitarian support upon us, So thank you very much indeed for that.

The letter is being to inform you kindly about our country Sudan situation as the war take place there, which has created very poor humanitarian condition and our families are in need of the most basic necessities of life. Therefore we call for stopping the war and opening humanitarian Corridors in Sudan.

In addition, As forgotten Sudanese refugees in Indonesia we have been living in limbo for more than a decade in miserable condition and unknown future. 

However, We request you kindly to consider and assist us to be resettled in the Third countries. We believe that your country has non-stop support for the refugees all around the world. So we are thankful and highly appreciate that.

Thank you so much

Best regards

Sincerely

Sudanese refugees community

Indonesia – Makassar