Myanmar lauds Indonesia's response to Rakhine problems

Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON, Myanmar

Myanmar's foreign ministry has lauded a trip to the country by Indonesia's foreign minister, during which Rento Marsudi pledged to help Myanmar resolve conflicts in violence-torn Rakhine State, in which anything between 74 and 400 Rohingya Muslims have recently died.

On Thursday, the deputy director general at Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Anadolu Agency that Indonesia's approach to issues in Rakhine were both “positive and constructive”.

“Indonesia's government understands what Myanmar is facing regarding the situation in Rakhine,” Aye Aye Soe said by phone.

“That’s what we want from neighboring countries and the international community,” he added, saying that such an approach would help calm the situation.

The reaction to Marsudi's two-day trip to Myanmar -- which came after pro-Rohingya protests in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta -- deeply contrasts with that to comments on the region by fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] member Malaysia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has heavily criticized Myanmar’s government and military over the violence in Rakhine, with Razak and his cabinet referring to it as "genocide” or “ethnic cleansing".

Myanmar subsequently accused Malaysia of meddling in its internal affairs.

According to a statement released by Indonesia’s ministry of foreign affairs, Marsudi has said that the country is ready to provide humanitarian assistance for both Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine state, also the setting for communal violence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in 2012 and 2013.

Aye Aye Soe added Thursday that Indonesia has offered to help to enhance communication channels between the communities for better understanding of each other.

“Unlike Malaysia, Indonesia shows respect to Myanmar and regional principles,” he said, referring to ASEAN's non-interference principle.

On Tuesday, Myanmar’s deputy foreign minister summoned Malaysia's ambassador to express its dismay over Razak’s "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" remarks.

The Myanmar foreign ministry said in a statement that the minister also stressed the need for the international community to assist Myanmar in its efforts to maintain "peace, stability, and security of the people and to make progress in building better relations between the two communities, instead of making calls based on unverified allegations that will only cause bigger problems than solutions”.

Since the Oct. 9 deaths of nine Myanmar border police officials in northern Rakhine State, Rohingya advocacy groups claim around 400 Rohingya have been killed in military operations, while Myanmar says 91 people -- 17 soldiers and 74 alleged "attackers" (including four who died during interrogation) -- have been killed.

Myanmar soldiers have also been accused of numerous human rights violations -- including sexual assaults -- in the area while conducting clearance operations to find those responsible.