One of the great tragedies of world poverty are people who risk everything to start a new life but end up in the hands of human traffickers. Recently, Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants had been stranded on traffickers’ boats for weeks off the coasts of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia with no country allowing them a safe harbor.
Finally, Indonesian fisherman took matters into their own hands and rescued 1,700 of these migrants bringing them into the Aceh province and setting up a camp for them. In July, popular Indonesian folksinger and law-maker Rafly was part of a large concert given to raise funds for the migrants and has worked to allow them to live permanently in Aceh province. “We want to show the world that Acehnese are compassionate,” Rafly was quoted as saying by the website portalsatu.com. “We have a lot of land, our people care, we have enough natural resources. There is no reason to send our brothers and sisters back.”
The recent benefit concert was said to feature his music – accompanied by with a massive percussion ensemble and an outpouring of charity from the local people for the stranded migrants, many of which share the Muslim faith. We’ve been unable to locate photos or footage from that specific concert which was held in a country still recovering from a tsumanai, however, PRI’s THE WORLD, aired this spot as an update on the continuing story of these people and how they’ve found a place that wants to welcome them; with music and open arms.
The most recent update is here:
Making Multicultural Music 