People flee from fighting areas in Rakhine state of Myanmar(Photo: EPA/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia will back Myanmar’s efforts for peace, stabilityand development in its northern state of Rakhine, said Indonesian ForeignMinister Retno Masudi.
TheIndonesian official voiced her support when she met with Myanmar’s StateCounselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, reported Myanmar News Agencyon September 5.
Theyalso exchanged views on matters relating to humanitarian and development aid toRakhine state and enhancement of bilateral cooperation.
Duringher visit, the Indonesian FM also met with U Kyaw Tint Swe, Myanmar’s Ministerof the Office of the State Counselor.
Indonesiaand Myanmar are also seeking ways to bolster counter-terrorism cooperation inthe region. Last month, senior officials of the two countries convened aspecial meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital city of Myanmar.
Clashesbetween Myanmar army and insurgents occurred in Rakhine state as gunmenattacked 24 police posts and broke into a military outpost in Rakhine on August24. To date, at least 110 people have been killed and tens of thousands ofpeople, mostly Rohingya Muslims, have fled into Bangladesh.
Myanmarauthorities have called on all ethnic groups to cooperate with the government inrestoring peace and stability in Rakhine. National Security Adviser U ThaungTun said the government has every right to defend itself, and forces will beused with restraint to avoid civilian causalities.
Hewarned that the current terrorist attacks may spread to and affect otherregions in the country, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to fightingterrorism.-VNA
