Turkish FM discusses Myanmar violence with counterparts

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu and Erric Permana

ANKARA, JAKARTA (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday spoke with his Qatari, Indonesian and Malaysian counterparts about the ongoing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state which has reportedly displaced and killed scores of Rohingya Muslims, according to diplomatic sources.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media, said Cavusoglu held separate phone conversations with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman in separate phone calls.

Cavusoglu spoke with his counterparts about recent developments in the Rakhine state, the sources added.

The Indonesian foreign minister said in a news conference Wednesday that Indonesia and Turkey had agreed to approach the issue of Myanmar’s use of violence in the Rakhine state through "constructive engagement".

"It is important to prioritize that this is a humanitarian disaster involving civilians," Marsudi said.

Deadly attacks on border posts in Myanmar's Rakhine state broke out Friday, leaving a soldier, 10 police officers, an immigration official and 77 militants dead, according to Office of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Later, media reports emerged saying Myanmar security forces used disproportionate force and displaced thousands of Rohingya Muslim villagers, destroying homes with mortars and machine guns.

Tensions between Buddhists and Muslims have been simmering in the region since communal violence broke out in 2012.