Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Joko Widodo on The Release of Humanitarian Assistance from Indonesia for Rohingya/Rakhine State, on 29 December 2016, at Terminal 3, 302 Pier, Tanjung Priok Seaport, Jakarta
Unofficial English translation
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Alhamdulillah, today, Thursday, 29 December 2016, we will soon dispatch ten containers of goods to Myanmar to help our brothers and sisters in Rakhine State, particularly the Muslim community. The ten containers include instant noodles, baby food such as wheat and cereals as well as sarong. Those are the goods requested as Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs communicated several times with the Government of Myanmar. These goods hailed from the people, businessmen, and the Government of Indonesia as well.
When it comes to diplomatic relations, Indonesia has done its job. We have shown our concerns with calm, and we did it without using megaphone diplomacy. And as we may be aware of, on 6 December 2016, I instructed the Indonesian Foreign Minister Ibu Retno Marsudi to meet with State Counsellor of Myanmar Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to deliver four key points regarding the importance to immediately open humanitarian access to Rakhine State; to immediately create stability and peace in Rakhine State; and I affirm the need for protection and respect for human rights, especially for the muslim community. I mention the same message as delivered during the meeting with Mr. Kofi Annan in Bali, on 9 December 2016. And the Indonesian Foreign Minister also reiterated the message at a retreat of Asean Foreign Ministers in Yangon, on 19 December 2016.
It is my hope that this humanitarian assistance is well accepted as a form of our concern for others. And it is my hope that peace, stability, and harmony can be immediately realized in Rakhine State.
That is all I can convey on this auspicious occasion. And, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I declare the humanitarian assistance from Indonesia for people in Rakhine State officially dispatched.
I thank you.
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (Humas Setkab) (MUR/YM/Naster)