Indonesian foreign minister, Suu Kyi hold talks on Rohingya crisis

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi shaking hands with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30pm, 4 Sep 2017Updated: 9:33pm, 4 Sep 2017

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Monday that Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi has responded positively to Indonesia’s proposals to deal with the latest outbreak of conflict in that country’s Rakhine State, which has led up to 87,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

In a telephone interview from Yango, Marsudi told local Metro TV that she urged Myanmar authorities to minimise the use of force in restoring security and stability in the state, which has long been plagued by communal strife between Muslims and Buddhists, and to extend protection to people of all ethnicities and religions there.

A Rohingya refugee woman holds her child as they walk on the muddy path after crossing into Bangladesh. Photo: Reuters

She also urged them to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid to people affected by the latest round of violence, which started Aug. 25 and is the most significant outbreak since October 2016.

“Indonesia’s proposals have been responded positively,” Marsudi said, adding that they are in line with recommendations included in a report made by the Advisory Commission of Rakhine State, headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Rohingya refugees on a truck on the Teknaf-Cox's Bazar highway in Ukhiya, Bangladesh. Photo: AFP