ABSTRACT
Indonesia’s experience of receiving, documenting and then moving on asylum seekers and refugees has been coloured by the rise of people smuggling by sea; it is the most dangerous type of smuggling for migrants concerned, with more deaths occurring at sea than through irregular land or air travel (Government of Australia, 2012). In this chapter, a number of reports and stories about the experiences and level of integration of Arabic-speaking refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia reveal how many were trapped in a state of limbo for years. The major issue with Indonesia’s treatment of refugees and asylum seekers is the unclear legal framework, which means that such people are continued to be treated as illegal immigrants. Many face administrative or penal measures, including mandatory detention, fines and deportation. Many refugees are still excluded from public services such as education and healthcare, and do not have access to employment rights or adequate housing.
