Integrasi dan Adaptasi Pengungsi Etnis Rohingya di Wisma Indah Sari Kota Pekanbaru

Abstract

This article discusses the presence of Rohingya ethnic refugees, particularly at Wisma Indah Sari in Pekanbaru City. Indonesia is often used as a transit country for refugees who face the reality that opportunities for resettlement in a third country are becoming increasingly limited, while returning to their home country would endanger their safety. Although Indonesia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol, it accepts refugees based on humanitarian solidarity, recognizing the individual's right to seek asylum in other countries, as well as the principle of non-refoulement, which is recognized within Indonesia’s human rights legal framework. This article aims to explore the process of integration and adaptation of Rohingya refugees at Wisma Indah Sari with the local community in Pekanbaru City. It adopts Karen Jacobsen's theory of local integration, which asserts that integration is successful when local communities accept the presence of refugees. Information and data were collected through in-depth interviews with informants, UNHCR staff, local residents, and Rohingya refugees. The findings of this article indicate that social integration is progressing relatively well, although challenges remain, such as varying community responses, ranging from support to concerns. The author stresses the importance of dialogue between refugees and the local community to prevent misunderstandings and further strengthen integration.