The world abounds with abandoned places, each with a story to tell. But what happens when an abandoned place becomes the setting for a human drama? Such is the case with Shaheed Dweep (formerly known as Neil Island in the archipelago of Andaman Islands), the scene of a tragic shipwreck involving a group of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar.
Escape from Persecution
On 23 December 2023, the Port Blair police control room received a report from local intelligence regarding suspicious movements of a boat near Shaheed Dweep. Several coastal security agencies, including the navy, coast guard and maritime police, immediately mobilised and intercepted the vessel. The boat had left Bangladesh about 14-15 days earlier with 180 Rohingya on board, including 47 women and 59 minors. Their goal was to reach Indonesia to escape the harsh military repression in Myanmar.
The Shipwreck and Survival
Of the two boats that left, one was captured by the coast guard and pushed back into international waters. The other reached the shores of Neil Island on 23 December 2023, but did not have the same fate: the ship sank. 160 people were saved, but the destiny of the captain remains a mystery. According to some accounts, the man may have escaped after the first day at sea.
The Situation on the Island
Viky, a diving instructor from ‘Vibes and Dives’, was among the first rescuers to arrive at the site of the shipwreck. He reports finding many malnourished children. For two days, the survivors were held in the Neil Island municipal offices, where they received food and medical care. Subsequently, they were transferred to Port Blair and placed in a temporary shelter pending central government arrangements.
Better a Shipwreck than Indonesia?
According to Viky, perhaps it was fortunate for the Rohingya that the ship sank near Neil Island. In fact, during Christmas 2023, Indonesia was the scene of high tensions over the arrival of Rohingya refugees. Some segments of the local population expressed hostility as the country faced protests over broader political and social issues.
An Unknown Destiny
But what happened to the Rohingya after they arrived in Port Blair? A little research I conducted in one evening led to a dead end. Visiting three different mosques in the city, no one seemed to have seen or heard of them. One man suggested checking in the area of Bhathu Basti, where a large Muslim community lives, but there was not enough time to research further.
Hypotheses?
The fate of these Rohingya refugees is shrouded in mystery, but we can make some assumptions based on similar dynamics that have occurred in the past. Here are some possibilities:
1) Detention and Repatriation
India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and often treats the Rohingya as illegal immigrants. They may have been detained long-term or even repatriated to Myanmar or Bangladesh, despite the danger to their lives.
2) Black Labour and Exploitation
Without documents and legal protection, many refugees end up in black labour. They may have been forced to work in exploitative conditions, perhaps in sectors such as construction, fishing or agriculture, where cheap labour is in demand.
3) Human trafficking
The Rohingya route is often targeted by criminal networks that sell them as forced labour or involve them in illicit activities. They may have been separated and transferred elsewhere by traffickers.
4) Escape to another destination
If the local authorities have released them or left them hanging, they may have tried to continue their journey to more welcoming countries, such as Malaysia or Indonesia.
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