Indonesia to stand beside Bangladesh

Repatriating Rohingya refugees main priority: Hasina

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi yesterday expressed her government’s readiness to support Bangladesh to ease the burden of refugee crisis, originating from the influx of Rohingyas fleeing persecution at their homeland in Rakhine State of Myanmar. She said her government wants an immediate stop to the inhuman sufferings of the Rohingya people due to the Myanmar military crackdown.

“This inhuman crisis shall be ended immediately. My government is ready to support Bangladesh to ease the burden of the crisis due to the influx of Rohingya people,” she told the journalists at a press briefing at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital.

Before the press conference, she held a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss ways to address the crisis over the Rohingya issue.

Retno Marsudi said she had an in-depth meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where they focused mainly on three points.

“Indonesia conveyed its sympathy to Bangladesh as it is facing the crisis over the influx of Rohingyas. Second, Indonesia is ready to support Bangladesh over the issue. Discussion will continue on this matter on how to provide assistance, and also, we received updates on the ground reports in bordering areas,” she added.

UNB adds: Urging the Myanmar government to stop violence against its citizens in Rakhine State, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh's priority task is to repatriate the Myanmar refugees to their homeland.

"They (Myanmar government) should stop violence...Our priority task is to repatriate the Myanmar refugees to their homeland and Bangladesh can cooperate in this regard," she said when Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.

After the meeting, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

The Prime Minister said the Rakhine problem cannot be resolved through military actions. "Rather, this should be solved politically," she said.

Mentioning that the pushing of the Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh and their stay here have become a great burden, she said Myanmar has to realise it.

Hasina bemoaned that children, women and elderly people have taken shelter in Bangladesh for fear of reprisal and they were forced to take a refugee life.

She said the implementation of the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led commission could help resolve the crisis in the Rakhine State.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the CHT Peace Accord of Bangladesh, saying the model could be followed in resolving the crisis.

Referring to the insurgency in the northeastern India, she said India overcame the crises with the cooperation of Bangladesh.

The problem in Rakhine is not a new one, Hasina said adding that BGB can also cooperate with the Myanmar border force, if necessary, to solve the problem.

During the meeting, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said as the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia wants to play a role in resolving the crisis in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Marsudi said she has already held talks with the Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief when she urged him to stop violence and sought protection of the children and women in the state.

About relief assistance, the Indonesian minister said her country is sending relief materials for the people in Rakhine and also proposed that Bangladesh send similar assistance for the refugees staying here.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were present.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh does not allow any militant group or non-state actor to use its territory for any kind of activities inimical to the neighbours and has been cooperating with Myanmar in the security sector.

The minister said this referring to the government's policy of 'zero tolerance' towards violent extremism and terrorism during his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi.

The Foreign Minister also disclosed that Bangladesh offered humanitarian help to the Myanmar government by providing financial help to erect cyclone shelters in the Rakhine State and ambulances for hospitals.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister informed that during her meeting with State Counsellor of Myanmar, she conveyed Indonesia's concern over the recent outbreak of violence, offered them a set of recommendations which they dub as "4+1" Formula.

She mentioned that the restoration of stability and public order, maximum self-restraint and non-use of force, protection for all, without exception or segregation based on ethnicity or religion and open access to humanitarian aid are the main four recommendations whereas that last '1' refers to the implementation of recommendations made in the final report of the Kofi Annan Commission.

Indonesian Foreign Minister informed that as the largest Muslim country in the world, it has domestic compulsion to respond to the crisis so that it can be resolved peacefully.

For this reason, she explained Indonesia's position to work concertedly with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Mahmood Ali emphasised that Bangladesh should not be the victim of repeated instability and violence in Myanmar.

He also stressed the problem in the Rakhine State can only be resolved through the full implementation of the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam was also present at the meeting held at state guesthouse Padma.

In Myanmar, the Indonesian Foreign Minister met the Myanmar State Counsellor Suu Kyi, Minister at the State Counsellor's Office, National Security Adviser, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Armed Forces.

The two Foreign Ministers discussed ways and means to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

They exchanged views on pertinent regional issues, particularly the evolving humanitarian crisis in the Rakhine State and implication of unprecedented level of influx of Muslim population from the Rakhine State seeking shelter into Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali expressed deep concern that a large number of desperate Myanmar nationals have entered Bangladesh since August 25 and tens of thousands more are on their way to save their lives.

He regretted that current influx has added to the burden of hosting around four hundred thousand of Myanmar nationals for decades.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi arrived here on Tuesday in a brief visit to discuss with the Bangladesh leadership the current persecution on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine.

As of now, around 123,000 Myanmar people -- mostly women and children -- entered Bangladesh after the attacks on police and army bases in Rakhine state on August 25 and the Myanmar military began a crackdown.

The Indonesian minister earlier in December last visited Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and discussed with Bangladesh authorities for finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.

 

Indonesia to stand beside Bangladesh

Repatriating Rohingya refugees main priority: Hasina

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi yesterday expressed her governments readiness to support Bangladesh to ease the burden of refugee crisis, originating from the influx of Rohingyas fleeing persecution at their homeland in Rakhine State of Myanmar. She said her government wants an immediate stop to the inhuman sufferings of the Rohingya people due to the Myanmar military crackdown. This inhuman crisis shall be ended immediately. My government is ready to support Bangladesh to ease the burden of the crisis due to the influx of Rohingya people, she told the journalists at a press briefing at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital. Before the press conference, she held a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss ways to address the crisis over the Rohingya issue. Retno Marsudi said she had an in-depth meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where they focused mainly on three points. Indonesia conveyed its sympathy to Bangladesh as it is facing the crisis over the influx of Rohingyas. Second, Indonesia is ready to support Bangladesh over the issue. Discussion will continue on this matter on how to provide assistance, and also, we received updates on the ground reports in bordering areas, she added. UNB adds: Urging the Myanmar government to stop violence against its citizens in Rakhine State, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladeshs priority task is to repatriate the Myanmar refugees to their homeland. They (Myanmar government) should stop violence...Our priority task is to repatriate the Myanmar refugees to their homeland and Bangladesh can cooperate in this regard, she said when Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met her at her official residence Ganobhaban. After the meeting, Prime Ministers Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters. The Prime Minister said the Rakhine problem cannot be resolved through military actions. Rather, this should be solved politically, she said. Mentioning that the pushing of the Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh and their stay here have become a great burden, she said Myanmar has to realise it. Hasina bemoaned that children, women and elderly people have taken shelter in Bangladesh for fear of reprisal and they were forced to take a refugee life. She said the implementation of the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led commission could help resolve the crisis in the Rakhine State. The Prime Minister also mentioned the CHT Peace Accord of Bangladesh, saying the model could be followed in resolving the crisis. Referring to the insurgency in the northeastern India, she said India overcame the crises with the cooperation of Bangladesh. The problem in Rakhine is not a new one, Hasina said adding that BGB can also cooperate with the Myanmar border force, if necessary, to solve the problem. During the meeting, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said as the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia wants to play a role in resolving the crisis in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. Marsudi said she has already held talks with the Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief when she urged him to stop violence and sought protection of the children and women in the state. About relief assistance, the Indonesian minister said her country is sending relief materials for the people in Rakhine and also proposed that Bangladesh send similar assistance for the refugees staying here. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Prime Ministers International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were present. Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh does not allow any militant group or non-state actor to use its territory for any kind of activities inimical to the neighbours and has been cooperating with Myanmar in the security sector. The minister said this referring to the governments policy of zero tolerance towards violent extremism and terrorism during his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi. The Foreign Minister also disclosed that Bangladesh offered humanitarian help to the Myanmar government by providing financial help to erect cyclone shelters in the Rakhine State and ambulances for hospitals. The Indonesian Foreign Minister informed that during her meeting with State Counsellor of Myanmar, she conveyed Indonesias concern over the recent outbreak of violence, offered them a set of recommendations which they dub as 4+1 Formula. She mentioned that the restoration of stability and public order, maximum self-restraint and non-use of force, protection for all, without exception or segregation based on ethnicity or religion and open access to humanitarian aid are the main four recommendations whereas that last 1 refers to the implementation of recommendations made in the final report of the Kofi Annan Commission. Indonesian Foreign Minister informed that as the largest Muslim country in the world, it has domestic compulsion to respond to the crisis so that it can be resolved peacefully. For this reason, she explained Indonesias position to work concertedly with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mahmood Ali emphasised that Bangladesh should not be the victim of repeated instability and violence in Myanmar. He also stressed the problem in the Rakhine State can only be resolved through the full implementation of the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam was also present at the meeting held at state guesthouse Padma. In Myanmar, the Indonesian Foreign Minister met the Myanmar State Counsellor Suu Kyi, Minister at the State Counsellors Office, National Security Adviser, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Armed Forces. The two Foreign Ministers discussed ways and means to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. They exchanged views on pertinent regional issues, particularly the evolving humanitarian crisis in the Rakhine State and implication of unprecedented level of influx of Muslim population from the Rakhine State seeking shelter into Bangladesh. Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali expressed deep concern that a large number of desperate Myanmar nationals have entered Bangladesh since August 25 and tens of thousands more are on their way to save their lives. He regretted that current influx has added to the burden of hosting around four hundred thousand of Myanmar nationals for decades. Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi arrived here on Tuesday in a brief visit to discuss with the Bangladesh leadership the current persecution on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmars western state of Rakhine. As of now, around 123,000 Myanmar people -- mostly women and children -- entered Bangladesh after the attacks on police and army bases in Rakhine state on August 25 and the Myanmar military began a crackdown. The Indonesian minister earlier in December last visited Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar and discussed with Bangladesh authorities for finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.