Kalla Assigned As Special Envoy For Rohingya

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hopes former vice president M Jusuf Kalla to act as an Indonesian special envoy for Rohingya issue to help find solutions to the Myanmar ethnic minority problem.

"I hope Pak Jusuf Kalla with his extraordinary experiences will become our special envoy to prevent misunderstanding with Myanmar about Indonesia's concern of and solidarity toward the Rohingya humanitarian issue. We want to help our brothers, the Rohingya ethnic community," Yudhoyono said after receiving Jusuf Kalla at his presidential office here Thursday.

The president said he had communicated with Kalla before the former vice president visited Myanmar recently. He had conveyed several ideas to Kalla to be passed on to the Myanmar government.

According to the president, the Myanmar government has allowed Indonesia to participate in helping solve the Rohingya problem, particularly regarding the victims and refugees.

"Pak Jusuf Kalla and I had managed problems in Ambon and Poso. The condition or the situation more or less was similar. Therefore, it's good if Indonesia can play a constructive role," he noted.(DWA/IGT)