Jokowi: Indonesia Urges Violence In Myanmar To Stop

JAKARTA - President Jokowi expressed his condolences for the increasing number of civilians who lost their lives in the chaotic military coup in Myanmar.

Jokowi said that the safety and welfare of the people must be the top priority. Therefore, Jokowi asked the Myanmar military regime to stop acts of violence against citizens.

"Indonesia urges that the use of violence in Myanmar be stopped immediately. So that no more casualties will be lost. The safety and welfare of the people must be a top priority," Jokowi said in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Friday, March 19.

Jokowi said Indonesia urged Myanmar officials to open dialogue in a cold way to quell violence.

"Indonesia also urges dialogue, so that reconciliation is carried out immediately to restore democracy, to restore peace, and to restore stability in Myanmar," he said.

The Myanmar military previously carried out a takeover of power in Myanmar, after the arrests of Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar President Win Myint and a number of other figures on Monday, February 1 yesterday.

The pretext used was cheating in the November 8, 2020 elections. The military handed over power to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing who then appointed Myint Swe, Myanmar's first vice president as acting President.

This action drew criticism from various parties. In fact, Myanmar citizens have staged demonstrations across the country to reject the military coup. Myanmar's military is facing a wave of violent protests.

As of Thursday, March 18 yesterday, the number of victims as a result of violence perpetrated by the Myanmar military, including the number of detained protesters, continued to grow.

"The total death toll in the weeks of rioting has risen to 224. A total of 2,258 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced," wrote a statement from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).