Indonesia Urges Myanmar to Immediately Stop Violence in Rakhine State
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi meets Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Monday (4/94
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi urged the Myanmar Government to immediately stop any kind of violence in Rakhine State and provide protection for everyone there, including Rohingya Muslims.
The statement was made by the Minister during a meeting with Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Monday (4/9) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Retno also said that both Indonesia and the international community are really concerned about the latest situation in the State. According to her, violation in the region has led to humanitarian crisis that claimed many lives, injured many people, and left many people homeless.
Minister Retno also told General Min Aung Hlaing that de-escalation of tensions in Rakhine State should be a priority of the Government of Myanmar. Efforts to de-escalate situation in Rakhine State should be the top priority of the authority of Myanmar Armed Forces, Retno said.
The one-hour meeting between Retno and General Hlaing was the main agenda in a series of her meetings with the authority of Myanmar to discuss renewed security and humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State.
Retno went on to say that security and stability are of great importance so that the humanitarian aids, rehabilitation process, and inclusive development including the development conducted by the Government of Indonesia can be carried on. She added that the Indonesian Government conducted several inclusive development and rehabilitation in Rakhine State, including by building a hospital in Mrauk U. In addition, she added that the Indonesia Humanitarian Alliance for Myanmar (AKIM) has also provided aid programs on health, education, economy, and capacity building.
Indonesias Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been cooperating with Myanmars NGOs in distributing humanitarian aids as well as medium and long term development assistance, Retno said.
On that occasion, Retno also urged the Myanmars Government to immediately open access to humanitarian aids, particularly for Indonesias NGOs, in order to address the crisis. Indonesia is ready to assist Myanmar by giving humanitarian aids and now we are waiting the access to be opened, Retno concluded.
In the meantime, responding the request of Minister Retno, General Hlaing answered that the authority of Myanmar continues in making efforts to restore the security and stability in Rakhine State. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)
