JAKARTA - Five years ago, September 3, 2017, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his concern about the conflict of violence against his Rohi ethnicity at Rakhine State, Myanmar. He revealed this at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. President Jokowi regretted the acts of violence against ethnic Rohingya.
Indonesia's number one person then promised humanitarian assistance to Rohani refugees. The assistance included food and medicines. Diplomacy efforts were also carried out. Jokowi wants the Myanmar government to immediately stop violence.
Armed conflict between the militant group The Arakan Rohingya Rescue Army (ARSA) and the Myanmar government is heating up. ARSA carried out attacks indiscriminately. They attacked the army, police, and 25 Rakhine border posts in August 2017.
The Myanmar government did not remain silent. The attack was considered a challenge. The Myanmar government also perpetuated military aggression again. In fact, military aggression was recently stopped in February.
The war ensued. However, it was not only ARSA who became victims. Civilian people were also affected. The military aggression killed dozens of people. The heated situation forced thousands of Rohingya ethnic people to leave their hometowns.
Bangladesh is one of the closest destinations. The armed conflict is also suspected by many as a Myanmar study to perpetuate genocide against the Rohingya ethnicity. President Jokowi is also concerned about the humanitarian tragedy that occurred in Myanmar.
I and all Indonesian people, we regret the acts of violence that occurred in Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is necessary to take a real action, not just a condemnation statement. And the government is committed to continuing to help overcome the humanitarian crisis, synergizing with the strengths of civil society in Indonesia and also the international community.
"I have assigned the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs to establish intensive communication with various parties, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, and the Special Advisory Commission for Rakhine State, Mr. Kofi Annan," said President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace as quoted by the Cabinet Secretariat for a long time.
Jokowi also sent Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi to Myanmar. The Foreign Minister is entrusted with a mission to stop and prevent violence in Rakhine State. Myanmar was also asked to immediately provide protection to all citizens and immediately open access to humanitarian aid.
President Jokowi also promised to immediately send food and medicine aid to Bangladesh. All of this is in order to help Rohingya refugees. Foreign Minister Retno was also asked to lead the way of providing assistance.
For humanitarian handling due to the conflict, the government has sent food and medicine aid, this is in January and February as many as 10 containers. It has also built schools in Rakhine State and will soon build hospitals that will start in October which will come in Rakhine State. Indonesia has also accommodated refugees and provided the best assistance.
I also assigned the Foreign Minister to fly to Dhaka, in Bangladesh in order to prepare the humanitarian aid needed for refugees in Bangladesh. We hope that this week we will send more food and medicine aid. Once again, violence, this humanitarian crisis must be stopped immediately, concluded President Jokowi.
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