Page 72 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

As winter draws near only by months, there will be more people, refugees and asylum seekers
who live in tents, roads, or shelters, freezing and waiting for the decisions of the Europeans.
If they cannot decide, many more will fall. I encourage our European counterpart to provide
decisions that are considered to be fair to all members and humane to the refugees.

However, this is not only the responsibility of the European countries. Those countries that
have become parties to the Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees should
play its role in line with the convention including in the resettlement process. I welcome the
resettlement plan pledges that have been made by Parties to the convention and urge those
who have not done so to share the burden and fulfill their responsibilities as what have been
enshrined under the convention.

As this would lead to solution, there is concern over certain preference on the refugee status
determination process, arguing that to some countries, discrimination will prevail under the
basis of religious background.

Within this context, Indonesia urges parties to the convention to deeply incorporate the
implementation of human rights principles in the resettlement process. No one shall be judged
under the basis of race, age, sex or certain religious background.

Again, we understand the challenges that may occurred in terms of “welcoming” these irregular
movement to the continent. A set of legal instruments and careful measures should be imposed
in a comprehensive manner to address these challenges.

Indonesia supports international migration to be treated as a multi-dimensional reality of
major relevance for the development of countries of origin, transit and destination. It should be
addressed in a number of different substantive policy areas, including health and population,
natural disasters, climate change, education, gender equality and in the case of remittances.
Hence, cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination is of crucial importance
and should be continuously pursued.

As a non-party to the refugee convention, Indonesia deems the influx of refugee as irregular
migration. Yet, we receive many of these migrants, most of them are seeking for status as refugee.
As per August 2015, a total of 13,110 persons of concern—refugees and asylum seekers—are in
Indonesia (UNHCR data).

We share no legal responsibility of the convention. Be that as it may, the history of conflicts and
the true value of solidarity that we have, taught us that humanity exist for no cause.

Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia I 59