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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi attended the meeting titled Have they forgotten us? Ensure continued global solidarity with Rohingya from Myanmar which was held on the sidelines of the High Level Week Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States (US), Thursday (9/21/2023). Indonesia is one of the co-sponsors of the meeting which aims to revive the international community’s solidarity and attention to the Rohingya.

“As we know, attention to the Rohingya issue is decreasing even though this issue is still very far from being resolved,” Retno said in his press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday (22/ 9/2023).

During the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs recalled that more than a million Rohingyas had fled. Some of them also entered Indonesia. “The global situation and Myanmar’s domestic politics make the Rohingya issue increasingly difficult to resolve,” he said.

Retno emphasized two things during the meeting Have they forgotten us? Ensuring continued global solidarity with the Rohingya of Myanmar. First, resolving the Rohingya issue must be part of resolving the political crisis in Myanmar.

The issue of the integration of the Rohingya people in Myanmar must be part of the inclusive national dialogue agenda. “And I also mentioned earlier that ASEAN will continue to contribute and ASEAN will not forget the Rohingya,” the foreign minister said.

Second, there needs to be some certainty in the provision of humanitarian aid to the Rohingya. “Currently, more than a million Rohingya are displaced and have become refugees, while those living in the Rakhine region are also facing a very difficult situation. “They risk becoming victims of organized crime,” Foreign Minister Retno said at the meeting.

Therefore, Retno stressed that international support for the Rohingya must continue to be strengthened. “We need cooperation between the UN, ASEAN and other international organizations,” he said.

“Right now, the Rohingya are crying in silence. “Just because we don’t hear their cries doesn’t mean we have to stay silent,” Retno said in closing his statement at the meeting.

Besides Indonesia, other countries also sponsored the meeting. Have they forgotten us? Ensuring continued global solidarity with the Rohingya of Myanmar are Bangladesh, Canada, Gambia, Malaysia, Turkey, England and the United States.

Don’t progress

At the 43rd ASEAN Summit, held in Jakarta from September 5 to 7, 2023, ASEAN leaders acknowledged that there had been no progress in handling the Myanmar issue. “The leaders reviewed the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus in line with the mandate of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits. “In conclusion, there has been no significant progress in implementing the five points of consensus,” Foreign Minister Retno told the JCC media team, Senayan, Jakarta, September 5, 2023 .

According to Retno, ASEAN leaders understand the complexity of the situation regarding the Myanmar issue. Nevertheless, they still appreciate Indonesia as ASEAN chair this year for its efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis.

“Mr. President (Jokowi) said earlier that in nine months (of ASEAN presidency), Indonesia has carried out 145 engagements. “This is the largest and most intensive engagement never led by ASEAN,” Retno said.

He explained that after holding discussions at the retreat session, ASEAN leaders decided that the five points of consensus would remain the main reference in handling the Myanmar issue. ASEAN leaders also agreed to form a troika consisting of the current, previous and future ASEAN chairs. “Myanmar’s apolitical representation is maintained,” Retno said.

Meanwhile, on the last day of the ASEAN Summit, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that ASEAN will continue its efforts to overcome the crisis in Myanmar. According to him, efforts to achieve peace always take a long time.

Jokowi revealed that during Indonesia’s presidency, ASEAN conducted 145 engagements with 70 stakeholders in Myanmar. He said trust between parties in Myanmar was beginning to grow.

“We’re going to continue this.” “Indeed, it always takes a long time to create peace,” Jokowi said in a press statement during the closing ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit at the JCC, Senayan, September 7, 2023.

“But it doesn’t matter, we have to keep doing it, we have to keep fighting. And ASEAN will not be held hostage by the Myanmar issue. “The ASEAN ship must continue to move forward to bring peace, stability and prosperity,” Jokowi added.