Anubhav Dutt Tiwari and Jessica Field

India – a host nation of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees, primarily from 2012 and earlier – has recently hardened its stance, declaring the Rohingya as ‘illegal migrants’ to be deported back to Myanmar. This approach is under challenge in the Supreme Court, but the present government’s broader policies, particularly relating to identity documents for certain foreigners under the law, puts Rohingya lives and dignity at risk.

So far accountability for boat crises in the ASEAN region have been ineffective. It’s time to consider new and even radical approaches that would send a clear message to the world and the region that inaction in the face of hundreds fleeing by boat to seek asylum will not be tolerated.