Jokowi Asks The Chair Of ASEAN To Hold A High Level Meeting To Discuss The Confusion In Myanmar

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said he would hold talks with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam who was the Chair of ASEAN to hold a high-level meeting to discuss the chaos in Myanmar.

The meeting, which is called the Summit (Summit), is a meeting of heads of states or heads of government of ASEAN member countries, namely countries in the Southeast Asia region.

"I will immediately hold talks with the sultan of Brunei Darussalam as Chair of ASEAN so that it is possible to hold an ASEAN summit to discuss the crisis in Myanmar," Jokowi said in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Friday, March 19.

Jokowi then expressed his condolences to see the increasing number of civilians who became victims of 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, there will be no more casualties. The safety and welfare of the people must be a top priority," he said.

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

It was previously known that the Myanmar military carried out a takeover of power in Myanmar after the arrest of Myanmar 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).