Galang Refugee Camp
Galang Refugee Camp accommodated Indochinese refugees from 1979 to 1996 on Galang Island in the Riau Islands of Indonesia. It had two sections. Camp One was for newly-arrived refugees, who had not yet been approved for resettlement in the United States or another third country settlement. After approval, refugees were relocated to Camp Two, where they received instructions in English as well as cultural information regarding life in the main resettlement countries. Camp Two also housed Cambodians who had been camped and approved in Thailand, which caused some tensions and unpleasantness with the Vietnamese majority. Policing was provided by the Indonesian police, while caseworkers and legal officers from participating countries came in on a less regular basis as needed.
The largest refugee movements were to the United States and Canada. Australia took a significant number, and was sometimes preferred by refugees with American family because Australia had shorter waiting periods and less red tape. Australia also took professionals with special skills, while the United States focused on family reunification, in keeping with its overall immigration and national vision. Denmark and Switzerland occasionally took refugees with special health needs for which their governments had infrastructure. Japan and Germany provided money and material.
An independent German charitable organization ran a boat, the Cap Animur, which rescued refugees floundering at sea; Germany (then the Federal Republic of, or West, Germany) accepted these individuals for resettlement, but with strict limitations on family reunification. This put some Galang refugees in the tough emotional situation of rejoicing to learn that a loved one had been saved at sea -- even while being informed that the family would not be able to live in the same country for many years.
Many individuals and families lived long periods of time in one or both of the camps at Galang. Babies were born there, and some people died, although there was a basic but adequate hospital. Of special note were the many young single men, mostly Vietnamese, who had emigrated to establish a better life for their families. Not only were they trapped with nothing to do, but women were in short supply, and usually enjoyed family protection. Nevertheless, many refugees established such amenities as gardens and coffeehouses. Informal social networks provided some degree of support. The more fortunate were able to trade items sent to them by family or friends from outside. Despite such apparent comforts, the boredom and uncertainty, as well as normal rivalries and tensions common to any small town, put an undertone of unhappiness into camp life.
Refugees left the camp after they had been assigned locations for resettlement and sponsored had agreed to provide financial assistance. Upon approval, the refugees gathered at the dock, clutching plastic bags with their few possessions. First, usually at night, they boarded a ferry boat to Singapore. For many, particularly Cambodians, when the modern skyline came into view, exubaration gave way to apprehension. For those who had never flown, concern about the new country was amplified by concern about the airplanes. For others, the time in Singapore was a pleasant reminder of urban pleasures once enjoyed and soon to be restored. After a day or two in the small Singapore camp, the emigres were loaded onto planes chartered by ICM (International Committee for Migration) for the flight to Oakland, California.
[edit] History
In 1996, the camp was closed seven years after the Comprehensive Plan of Action was adopted. All the Vietnamese refugees had repatriated by the UNHCR. Presentations of Camp (ex sinam galang) from UNHCR to BIDA took place officially in 1997.
Most boat people who arrived in Galang were transferred from other islands like Natuna, Tarempa, Anambas.
Galang Refugee Camp had many facilities and offices like camp administration (P3V) office, PMI (Red Cross Hospital) and UNHCR offices/staff premises. Many non-government organisations like Save the Children and Écoles Sans Frontières also opened their schools in the camp.
Most refugees stayed in wooden long houses or makeshift accommodations.
Their main activities in the camp were to study English and other languages or vocational skills while waiting for the result of the procedure to determine their refugees status and resettlement in other countries.
Today, Galang Island (Ex Sinam Camp) is managed by Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA). In 1992 according to Presidential Decree No. 28/1992, the expansion of BIDA Working Area include Rempang Island, Galang Island and small islands surrounded.
BIDA built 6 bridges which were inaugurated on25 January 1998. The bridges connect Batam Island - Tonton Island - Nipah Island - Setoko Island - Rempang Island - Galang Island - Galang Baru (New Galang) Island in order to develop all these islands.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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