Dozens of Rohingya refugees who arrived by boat at a tourist beach in western Indonesia have been relocated to a temporary shelter after locals allowed their landing, an official said on Thursday. The mostly Muslim ethnic Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar,

A rickety wooden boat carrying more than 100 Rohingya Muslims landed Wednesday in Indonesia as the northernmost province of Aceh continued to receive the refugees fleeing persecution and political unr

More than 70 Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar have arrived at a tourist beach in Indonesia’s Aceh province. Local police chief Nova Suryandaru said a wooden boat carrying 40 men, 32 women and four children ran aground in Pereulak region in East Aceh on Wednesday after its engine broke down.

The mostly Muslim Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar -- their predominantly Buddhist homeland -- and thousands risk their lives each year on long and dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.

Authorities initially blocked the refugees from disembarking to prevent them from escaping and because some local residents opposed their presence in town, according to local official.

Four men were flogged in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province on Thursday (Jan 30) for engaging in online gambling, local officials said, the first public lashing of the year under the region's strict Islamic law.

Authorities say dozens of Rohingya Muslims have come ashore in Indonesia, on the heels of another group earlier this month. The country suspects human trafficking syndicates may be behind the surge in refugee arrivals.

Dozens of Rohingya refugees who arrived by boat at a tourist beach in western Indonesia have been relocated to a temporary shelter after locals allowed their landing, an official said on

At least 75 Rohingya refugees arrived by boat at a tourist beach in western Indonesia on yesterday, but were stopped by authorities from disembarking,

An Acehnese man distribute food to Rohingya refugees on a boat stranded on a beach in Peureulak, Aceh province, Indonesia on Jan 29. (AP)

At least 75 Rohingya refugees arrived by boat at a tourist beach in western Indonesia on Wednesday, but were stopped by authorities from disembarking, local officials said.

At least 75 Rohingya refugees arrived by boat at a tourist beach in western Indonesia on Wednesday, but were stopped by authorities from disembarking, local officials