Indonesia Calls on Myanmar to Hold Inter-Faith Dialog

FM Retno Marsudi and State Counselor/Myanmarese FM Aung San Suu Kyi (R).

Nusa Dua, Bali, 08 Rabi’ul Awwal 1438/08 December 2016 (MINA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said Indonesia calls on Myanmar to hold an inter-faith dialog to put an end to conflict in Rakhine, northern Myanmar.

“Cooperation we are seeking for in the future is through inter-faith dialog. We see Myanmar is very plural, so is Indonesia also very plural,” Antara News quoted Retno as saying after a bilateral meeting with Suriname Foreign Minister Niermala Badrising at the Westin Hotel in this resort district on Wednesday night.

The Indonesian foreign minister said she had talked with Muslim and Buddhist organizations to promote inter-fair cooperation.

“The State Counselor (Aung San Suu Kyi) highly appreciates the role played by Indonesia to help solve problem in Rakhine,” she said.

In addition, she said, Indonesia is ready to strengthen cooperation with Myanmar in capacity building for human right respect and democracy.

“Actually this is only a continuation of cooperation which has existed long between Indonesia and Myanmar, as in the context of Bali Democracy Forum, cooperation forum through institute of peace and democracy, we give or plan a number of programs to cooperate with Myanmar,” she said.

The meeting with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday (Dec.6), was a commitment for continuation of cooperation in democracy, good governance and respect for human right, she said.

At that meeting, Indonesia again expressed concern with the problem in Rakhine.

“Indonesia hoped that condition in the Rakhine State could be normal again with human right protection and respect including the rights of Muslim community there,” Retno said.