Indonesian FM raises Rohingya issue with Myanmar
By Erric Permana
August 30, 2017
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi spoke to Myanmar’s National Security Adviser U Thaung Tun on Tuesday, to discuss the disproportionate use of force by Myanmar security forces in Rakhine state which had reportedly displaced thousands of Rohingya Muslims.
During a news conference at Jakarta's state palace on Tuesday Marsudi said that she spoke with U Thaung Tun on the phone about developments in Rakhine state.
Marsudi said she had asked Myanmar to "avoid civilian casualties amid the violence" and to provide protection to the Rohingya community.
"This security protection is a humanitarian concern; it has to include the people of Rakhine state," she said.
"I highlighted that Indonesia remains committed to providing help and assistance to the Myanmar government to ease the situation or help build a conducive Rakhine state," she added.
Marsudi also said she contacted the Indonesian embassy in Yangon, stating that the National Security Adviser will brief the Indonesian ambassador.
Additionally Marsudi said that she had also contacted Bangladesh’s foreign minister to discuss Bangladesh’s recent refusal to accept Rohingya refugees.
Deadly attacks on border posts in western Myanmar's Rakhine state broke out on Friday, resulting in mass civilian casualties.
Later, media reports emerged saying Myanmar security forces used disproportionate force and displaced thousands of Rohingya villagers, destroying homes with mortars and machine guns.
