RI, Myanmar discuss democracy, refugees

Erwida Maulia, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Tue, 03/17/2009 10:23 AM  

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with visiting Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein here Monday to discuss the contentious issues of the Rohingya boatpeople and democracy in the junta-ruled country. 

Yudhoyono emphasized the need for a “practical solution” to resolve the Rohingya problem, and urged Myanmar to prove to the world that its “road map to democracy” could work by holding “fair” and “inclusive” general elections planned for next year. 

“Prime Minister Thein Sein said the Myanmar government is paying close attention to the [Rohingya] issue. Basically it says it will accept back the Rohingya people as long as they can prove they are indeed from Myanmar,” Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told the press after the meeting of the two leaders at the State Palace in Jakarta. 

He added some of the refugees may have come from Bangladesh. 

Dino said both leaders had basically agreed the Rohingya issue needed to be resolved through the Bali Process, a regional mechanism aimed at combating people smuggling, trafficking and related transnational crimes, which was agreed upon by ASEAN leaders during the recent ASEAN Summit. 

Myanmar, however, wanted the Bali Process not to focus on the Rohingya refugee issue. 

Dino added Indonesia would extend the interim phase of humanitarian assistance for 400 Rohingya boatpeople stranded in Aceh province until a final solution to the problem was found.

The refugees, believed to have come from Myanmar, were heading to Thailand before being stranded in Indonesia’s westernmost province. 

“The Indonesian government will establish bilateral cooperation with the Myanmar government, and will involve the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration to solve the problem,” Dino said. 

The two leaders also discussed the touchy issue of democracy in Myanmar. After listening to Thein Sein’s explanation of Myanmar’s preparations for next year’s elections, Yudhoyono reminded Myanmar that this would be the time for it to prove to the world it would complete its seven-step road map to democracy. 

“The President emphasized the importance of a credible, transparent, fair and inclusive election process. He also said Myanmar should not just conduct elections, but most importantly quality elections,” Dino said. 

He added Yudhoyono did not directly discuss the issue of Myanmar’s political detainees with Thein Sein. 

The President’s emphasis on “inclusive” elections, however, was intended to politely persuade the junta to release the detainees. 

The two leaders also discussed a range of other issues, including regional and international matters. 

They agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and to boost cooperation in several fields, including the military, the economy and tourism. 

In the military field, Dino said, Indonesia and Myanmar had conducted military student exchanges and planned to conduct a joint defense seminar. 

In the economic sector, Indonesia wants to further boost bilateral trade, which has grown at a tremendous pace in recent years. 

The bilateral trade value between the two countries increased by about 89 percent from 2006 to 2007, and now amounts to about US$300 million. 

“That’s still very far from the real potential,” Dino said. 

During his two-day visit to Jakarta, Thein Sein is scheduled to meet with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and visit the Kalibata Heroes’ Cemetery in South Jakarta on Tuesday. 

It is Thein Sein’s first visit to Indonesia since he assumed his present post in October 2007. 

This would be the time for Myanmar to prove to the world it would complete its seven-step road map to democracy.