4 January 2017, Wed, 10:23

Indonesia offers ‘bridge building’ to resolve Rohingya crisis

Indonesia is carrying out intensive diplomacy with bridge building between Myanmar and Bangladesh to help address the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

The Straits Times wrote this on Tuesday, quoting Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi.

Jakarta is also keeping in mind that the issue is very sensitive in Myanmar, the newspaper reported.

Retno, who recently visited Dhaka, was quoted to have said on Sunday that her country is trying to mediate as their bilateral ties between Myanmar and Bangladesh “have been affected by the Rohingya issue”.

"I'm carrying out our diplomacy carefully so it will not cause a tumult, because Rohingya conflicts are very sensitive issues, which relate to a fully sovereign country. The sovereignty of a country must be respected," the foreign minister reportedly said.

Retno recently met Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the latter's private residence to discuss the Rohingya issue, the report mentioned.

She also came to Cox's Bazar near the Myanmar border to talk to Rohingya who have fled their motherland.

About 50,000 Rohingya have fled there since the Myanmar army launched a crackdown on its side of the border in October, the report said referring to Bangladesh authorities.