INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo wants the humanitarian crisis involving the Rohingya in Rakhine, Myanmar, to be resolved objectively and not merely by making statements condemning the republic.

He said Indonesia was committed to help, and had sent Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to meet and discuss the matter with Myanmar leaders.

Retno is scheduled to meet Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi today.

“I and the people of Indonesia… we regret the violent act that is happening in Rakhine state, Myanmar.

“There is a need for action and not merely statements to condemn, and the (Indonesian) government is committed to helping resolve this humanitarian crisis, synergized with the strength of the Indonesian, as well as international, community,” he said in a statement today.

Joko, better known as Jokowi, said violence against the Rohingya should cease immediately, and there should be synergy among the global community to help them.

He said Retno would also go to Bangladesh to discuss aid for the Rohingya there.

According to reports, tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since last week.

The Myanmar government claims it has launched military attacks against Rohingya militants, known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung, which have a population of about 800,000 people.

Meanwhile, Indonesian police have recorded statements from several witnesses after a Molotov bomb was thrown at the Myanmar embassy early yesterday.

The bomb caused a small fire that was doused by security personnel at the building.

A day earlier, hundreds of Indonesians had staged a demonstration in front of the embassy to protest against the Myanmar government’s violence towards the Rohingya.

They carried posters, some of which condemned Suu Kyi, and called on the Asean community to take drastic action by removing Myanmar as a member. – Bernama, September 4, 2017.