Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has yet to issue an instruction to the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) to send a general to speak with the Myanmar military junta and help resolve the country's political crisis.

"Not yet, no (instruction) specifically," TNI's Chief of General Affairs Staff Lieutenant General Bambang Ismawan said at the Presidential Palace Complex here, Friday.

However, the military will prepare the general's name to allow them to embark for Myanmar as early as possible after Jokowi instructed them to do so, he affirmed.

"We will prepare (the general's name) as a precaution that the president will instruct us to do so later. Yes, we are preparing it," Ismawan stated.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo highlighted Indonesia's plan to send a high-ranking military officer to speak with members of the Myanmar junta.

The president expressed hope that the appointed general would shed light on Indonesia's successful transition to democracy with the junta.

"This is about an approach. We have the same experience. Indonesia experienced the same situation. We can learn from the experience of how Indonesia began (its transition) to democracy," Jokowi said in an interview with Reuters on February 1.

While not dismissing the possibility that he will visit Myanmar himself, Jokowi believed that the dialogue would be bolstered if conducted by officials from the same background as the junta.

The president stated that the Indonesian general to be sent to Myanmar would be the one involved in Indonesia's Reformasi movement in 1998.

Indonesia, as the holder of the ASEAN Chairmanship this year, is keen to ensure that the five-point consensus on Myanmar agreed upon at the ASEAN Summit on April 24, 2021, can be implemented to address crises in the country.


Related news: Jokowi calls for end to violence in Myanmar

Related news: Indonesia urges Myanmar military to promptly implement ASEAN's 5PC




Translator: Indra Arief P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
Copyright © ANTARA 2023