Indonesian refugees in Malaysian camps

Malaysia has been forced to confront some unpalatable realities in recent months. But the latest challenge facing the Kuala Lumpur government is only indirectly related to the financial turmoil in the region.

Anger, inflamed by the likelihood of deportation, has led to bloodshed at camps housing illegal immigrants from Indonesia. Malaysian officials have rightly pointed out that their country is in no position to absorb thousands of Indonesians fleeing poverty at home. As a result, illegal journeys once invested with hope and promise have become a source of misery and desperation. And desperate people will take desperate measures. The authorities in Malaysia must not waver in their resolve to curb the influx of Indonesians into their country. And they must take tough action against those responsible for the riots.

Many of the inmates of the detention camps are desperate people who feel they have nothing to live for because their dreams of a new life have been dashed and only forced repatriation looms for them. The potential for more violence remains. The Malaysian authorities have recaptured the initiative and are now appealing for calm. We hope the inmates of these camps will listen to them. The situation is too dangerous for demagoguery. Inflamed passions must be allowed to cool.

But a bigger and more urgent responsibility rests with the international community. The solution lies in emergency aid for Jakarta from the West as well as from Indonesia's regional neighbors. The United States has already indicated that it will be providing more humanitarian aid for Indonesia. But this aid must be expedited and efforts must be made to ensure that it goes to the people of Indonesia and does not end up in the pockets of a select few.

-- The Hong Kong Standard