Assessment of the Responsibility of Local Governments in Indonesia for the Management of Refugee Care

Abstract

This article assesses the responsibility of local governments in Indonesia for the management of refugee care, following the enactment of Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 concerning the Treatment of Refugees (the “PR”). It highlights the limited authority of local governments in handling refugee issues—which is an issue that cuts across several national legal and administrative regimes including Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, and Immigration. This article focuses on the constraints of local political dynamics and budgeting in allocating local government funds for refugee care. In addressing these concerns, the authors argue that the PR should be amended to explicitly define the role of local governments in managing refugee issues and to include the regional revenue and expenditure budget as a source of funding. In addition, the authors argue that local governments that are hosting refugees should establish relevant local regulations for implementation of the PR.

In Search of Durable Solutions for Refugees in Indonesia: A State Security and Human Rights Protection Approach

“…In addition, there has been no contextual change to this seven-year-old regulation. The lack of protection for refugees' human rights in these regulations actually makes it difficult for the government to implement these regulations, thereby worsening the situation for protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia (Suyatna, et al, 2021).…”