Indonesia sends special envoy for Rohingya to address Arakan violence

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and  former vice president Jusuf Kalla  

Aug 22, 2012 

Indonesia has appointed former vice president Jusuf Kalla as a special envoy to help address sectarian violence in Burma's Rakhine state.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the move was a form of "solidarity with our Rohingya brothers".

Mr Kalla, who is chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross, is expected to arrive in Burma on September 8.

"It started as a personal conflict, and going to a political conflict, and then going to an ethnic conflict and it will be a religious conflict," Mr Kalla told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program.

"As an humanitarian, Asian, Muslim country, it should be our duty to assist and to participate to support the government there in stopping this violence."

Burma recently allowed the Indonesian Red Cross, along with other international humanitarian agencies, to send aid to refugees forced to flee the deadly conflicts between Rohingyas and Rakhines that have left at least 87 dead.

Source : Abc Australia