Page 55 - Geopolítica del Mundo Actual. Una Visión Multidisciplinar

GEOPOLÍTICA DEL MUNDO ACTUAL. UNA VISIÓN MULTIDISCIPLINAR:
Cultura de Paz, Conflictos, Educación y Derechos Humanos
seekers in Indonesia from 2008 to 2017.
Source: UNHCR Indonesia
Chart above shows a sharp increase in the number of asylum applications to UNHCR in Indonesia in 2012 and continues to increase in 2013. The data shows a downward trend after 2013 when the OSB policy implemented by the Australian government. This data and information about the decrease number of asylum seekers in Indonesia in line with the decrease number in Australia after OSB policy implemented by Australian government.
Moreover, in an interview with Isa Soemawidjaja, Assistant Protection Officer UNHCR Indonesia, stated that the opportunity to get resettlement is very small, only 1 percent of the world’s total refugees can be placed in third countries, such as developing their talents and abilities, through training / vocational activities. While, due to the opportunity to get resettlement is very small, then the most possible solution if voluntary rapatriation refused by refugees due to fear of persecution is “local integration” in the asylum country where they are living. This all means the number of asylum seekers who stuck in Indonesia will keep increase by time.
Furthermore, in determining refugee status there are two levels; when the an asylum seeker being rejected in the first time, then they can still submit an appeal within 30 days after the UNHCR’s decision with new eviden. Further, UNHCR will review and conduct an assessment again. When the application has been rejected again or they do not file an appeal, they are no longer a concern of UNHCR, they are subject to the authority of
the state where they are living and this state will determine the next policy toward them. It means, for those asylum seekers in Indonesia who have been rejected to get refugee status and they refuse repatriation, they will be under the laws in force in the country and Indonesian government is the part that will decide on this issue.
As mentioned above, the Australian Navy had entered Indonesian territorial waters in order to push back the ships that brought undocumented passengers. Moreover, on 2015, Amnesty International revealed the involvement of Australian officials in briberry to the crews of boats who tried to get Australia from Indonesia. According to Amnesty International, they paid in order to ask those crews which were considered as people smuggler brought back those passengers to Indonesia.
The act of bribing by Australian officials is not only an embarrassing scandal of Australian government officials, but can also be considered as a form of involvement with international crime which in this case are people smuggling. This is contrary to Australia’s commitment all this time in eradicating people smuggling. Moreover, the act of directing those boat to bring the asylum seekers back to Indonesian territorial waters violates the norm ethically in international relations between countries.
A Violation To The Sovereignty of Indonesian Territorial Waters
As mentioned previously, in the implementation of OSB, the Australian Navy pushes the boats with Indonesian flag back to Indonesian territorial waters. While the act of crosses the Indonesian territorial waters during its operation is considered as a humiliation to sovereign state. This violation is certainly opposed by the Indonesian government because disturbing territorial integrity and sovereignty of Indonesia as a nation.
The incident of Australian Navy, entered to Indonesian territorial waters during its operational in implementing OSB policy, is a violation of national borders and a state’s sovereignty as stated
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