Eksternalizing Risk: State Security and Its Consequences for Aceh in Operation Sovereign Borders
Main Article Content
Abstract
Irregular migration has become an important issue as border security policies implemented by destination countries can also affect the conditions of migrants in transit countries. Australia has implemented Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) since 2013 to strengthen border control and reduce irregular maritime arrivals. Previous studies have tended to discuss this policy, Indonesia’s role as a transit country, and the responses of Acehnese communities separately. This study aims to analyze the conditions of transit migrants in Aceh in relation to the implementation of OSB through the perspective of state security and the concept of risk externalization. This study employed a qualitative method using a library research approach based on policy documents, reports from international organizations, and relevant journal articles published between 2013 and 2024. Information from these sources was compared and analyzed to examine the relationship between OSB and migrant conditions in Aceh. The findings show that OSB strengthened Australia’s border control and reduced maritime arrivals, from 55 boats carrying 3.116 migrants before the policy was implemented to zero afterward. However, restricting access to Australia did not eliminate migration related challenges in transit countries. By the end of 2023, approximately 12.295 refugees and asylum seekers remained registered in Indonesia. In Aceh, these conditions were associated with prolonged legal uncertainty and a shift in local attitudes from solidarity toward social concern. These findings highlight the need for stronger regional cooperation and more equitable responsibility sharing.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Aisha, R. M., Rachmat, A. N., & Nourma, N. (2025). Sama Dengan Nauru Terkait Isu Penanggulangan Imigran Ilegal Tahun 2022-2024. Global Insight Journal, 02(02), 1–15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36859/gij.v2i2.3331
ANAO. (2017). Offshore Processing Centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea: Contract Management of Garrison Support and Welfare Services. Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/offshore-processing-centres-nauru-and-papua-new-guinea-contract-management
Australia, R. C. of. (2019). People who come by boat. Refugee Council of Australia. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/boat-arrivals/
Australia, R. C. of. (2026). Offshore processing statistics. Refugee Council of Australia. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/operation-sovereign-borders-offshore-detention-statistics/2/
Buzan, B. (1983). People,States, and FearThe National Securiry Problem in international Relations. In Brighton: Wheatsheaf Books (pp. 41–63). Wheatsheaf Books.
Dewansyah, B. (2025). From Australian Influence to Rohingya Refugees: A Systematic Literature Review of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies, 4(2), 6–20. https://doi.org/10.54828/ijsls.2025v4n2.2
Gleeson, M., & Yacoub, N. (2024). ‘Offshore processing’ in Australia. Externalizing Asylum. https://externalizingasylum.info/offshore-processing-in-australia/
Hudan, R. H. (2019). Kontradiksi Operation Sovereign Borders Australia Terhadap Peratifisian Konvensi Pengungsi Tahun 1951. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional Global, 10(2), 14–29.
Jumadi, J. (2025). Indonesia and the rohingya crisis: An analysis of the role of transit countries in refugee protection. Ex Aequo Et Bono Journal Of Law, 3(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.61511/eaebjol.v3i1.2025.2044
Karim, Z. P., Zakia, R., Hukum, F., Mada, U. G., Budaya, F. I., & Mada, U. G. (2025). Menciptakan Musuh Imajiner : Penolakan Pengungsi Rohingya di Aceh Creating Imaginary Enemies : The Rejection of Rohingya Refugee in Aceh. JURNAL HAM, 16(2), 77–94. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30641/ham.2024.16.77-94
Lau, B. (2021a). A Transit Country No More. May, 1–10. https://mixedmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/170_Indonesia_Transit_Country_No_More_Summary_Report.pdf
Lau, B. (2021b). A Transit Country No More (Issue May). https://mixedmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/170_Indonesia_Transit_Country_No_More_Summary_Report.pdf
Leslie, T., & Corcoran, M. (2014). Operation Sovereign Borders - the first six months. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-26/operation-sovereign-borders-the-first-6-months/5734458?
Listriani, S., Rosmawati, & Kadir, M. Y. A. (2020). Toward a New Legal Framework for Settling Rohingya’s Refugee Crisis in Indonesia: A Lesson Learned from Aceh Province. Education and Humanities Research, 413(April 2018), 277–285. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200306.227
Missbach, A. (2017). Facets of Hospitality: Rohingya Refugees’ Temporary Stay in Aceh. Indonesia, 104. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1353/ind.2017.0010
Nawar, M., Muazzinah, M., & Marzaniar, P. (2025). Analisis Kebijakan Penanganan Pengungsi Rohingya di Provinsi Aceh. Jurnal Administrasi Politik Dan Sosial, 6(2), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.46730/japs.v6i2.261
Purwaningsih. (2019). SALINAN PRESIDEN REPUBLIK INDONESIA PERATURAN PRESIDEN REPUBLIK INDONESIA tentang Hubungan Luar Negeri, perlu menefapkan Peraturan Presiden tentang. 42.
Pym, J. E. (2018). Operation Sovereign Borders “blocked 33 boats in five years.” SBSNews. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/operation-sovereign-borders-blocked-33-boats-in-five-years/3jm4g00gp
Rafiki, A. (2017). Alasan Indonesia-Australia Bekerjasama Dalam Bali Process Untuk Menanggulangi Irregular Migration. EJournal Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, 2(2), 597–612.
Razak, F. R. (2019). Kebijakan Unilateral Penanganan Imigran Ilegal Australia Pasca Pemilihan Umum Australia Tahun 2013. Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional, 20(2), 137–155. https://doi.org/10.7454/global.v20i2.332
Saragih, H. M., & Pramita, H. A. T. (2020). Implikasi Kebijakan Australia Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) Terhadap Kerjasama Pertahanan-Keamanan Indonesia dan Australia (2013-2018). Jurnal Ilmiah Indonesia, 5, 1121–1137. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-literate.v5i10.1656
Sukma, N. A. S., Nurlukman, A. D., Amiludin, & Ahmad. (2021). Bantuan Pemerintah Indonesia Dalam Penanganan Pengungsi Internasional Dari Negara Konflik. Masalah-Masalah Hukum, 50(2), 184–195. https://doi.org/10.14710/mmh.50.2.2021.184-195
UNHCR. (2022). Indonesia Fact Sheet - June 2022. June, 1–2. www.unhcr.org2
UNHCR. (2023a). As of end 2023, there are some 12,295 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Indonesia. UNHCR Indonesia. https://www.unhcr.org/id/en/who-we-are/figures-glance
UNHCR. (2023b). Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2022.
UNHCR. (2024). UNHCR Indonesia Fact Sheet, Desember 2024. December, 1–6.
Waltz, S. M. (1991). The Renaissance of Security Studies. International Studies Quarterly, 35(2), 211–239.