"Indonesia is committed to helping resolve the Rohingya issue."Phnom Penh (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Myanmar President Thein Sein discussed the problems faced by Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, Myanmar, during the ASEAN Summit.
"President Thein Sein explained that the riots in the region were communal in nature and did not stem from religion. He also stressed that the conflict was not driven by the government," Presidential aide for international relations Teuku Faizasyah said on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN Summit here on Tuesday.
"In response, President Yudhoyono said he understood the situation in Myanmar because Indonesia had also experienced similar situations in the past," he added.
"However, Indonesia is committed to helping resolve the Rohingya issue through bilateral diplomacy. It will also take the multilateral approach through the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OKI)," Faizasyah stated.
He added that President Yudhoyono had asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa to be actively involved in resolving the Rohingya issue.
"The President and the Minister have already discussed what has been done and needs to be done by Indonesia to help solve the Rohingya problem," Faizasyah said.
He pointed out that Indonesia was ready to provide assistance to Myanmar in the rehabilitation of the Rohingya Muslims.
"President Thein Sein had previously said major reconstruction efforts were needed in the wake of the conflict, requiring billions of dollars," Faizasyah stated.
When asked about the amount of financial assistance that Indonesia would provide, he said the government had yet to decide on the matter.
"President Sein has welcomed the offer of assistance from Indonesia and has invited President Yudhoyono to Myanmar next year," Faizasyah noted.
"He said Myanmar was open to anyone who wanted to see the condition of the Rohingyas," he added.
At least 78 people were reported killed after the unrest broke out in May. In addition, 1,200 people were missing and 80,000 people displaced around the cities of Sittwe and Maungdaw.
President Sein blamed religious extremists for the unrest in June and October, which claimed at least 167 lives. He also faced criticism for failing to address the underlying tensions in Rakhine State, where an estimated 800,000 Rohingya Muslims are not recognized as citizens.
(U.Y012/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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