Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will meet with Myanmar's state counselor and de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to discuss the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday (03/09).

Following attacks on police posts and an army base on Aug. 25 by Rohingya insurgents, clashes between Myanmar security forces and militants have killed nearly 400 and made more than 50,000 flee the area.

"I'm taking with me the trust of the [Indonesian] people that Indonesia can help address the humanitarian crisis, and the hope of the international community that this crisis can be resolved," Retno said, as quoted in a statement released by the ministry.

Retno departed for Myanmar on Sunday afternoon. During her visit, she will also meet with the chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Gen. U Min Aung Hlaing, national security advisor U Thaung Tun, and U Kyaw Tint Swe, who heads the Ministry of the State Counselor's Office.

The minister's visit to the violence-torn country is part of Indonesia's role in the process of reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar. Retno will be the first foreign official to visit Rakhine State since violence broke out last week.

In December, Retno visited refugee camps near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, where many Rohingya fled after violence escalated following an attack in October, when insurgents of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army targeted three border posts and killed nine policemen, prompting a fierce military response.

The conflict in Rakhine has drawn international condemnation, with the Myanmar military being accused of ethnic cleansing, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi fiercely criticized for silence on the abuse of the Rohingya.

On Thursday, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a humanitarian assistance program for Myanmar, which will be conducted by 11 organizations from Indonesia, including the Nahdlatul Ulama — the world's largest Muslim organization.

In a statement issued by the Cabinet Secretariat on Sunday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said Retno will also visit Bangladesh to carry out the necessary preparations for the humanitarian aid, and that Indonesia "will send more food and medicines in the coming weeks."

"We need to take real action, not merely [give] statements of condemnation. The government is committed to supporting efforts addressing the humanitarian crisis, in synergy with civil society in Indonesia and the international community," Jokowi said.

Bangladesh has reportedly refused to accept more refugees crossing its border with Myanmar, citing over-capacity concerns. It was already hosting 400,000 Rohingya refugees prior to the recent influx.

In Myanmar, there are approximately 1.1 million Rohingya — a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, which by many is considered the world's most persecuted minority. Most of them live in Rakhine State. Denied citizenship, they are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite living in Myanmar since centuries.

Indonesians Condemn Violence in Myanmar

Not only the government is voicing concerns and condemning the violence in Rakhine State, but also members of the Indonesian public — from Muslim organizations to the House of Representatives (DPR).

On Saturday, more than 100 people protested in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta, urging the country to end violence against the Rohingya.

According to state news agency Antara, they also called on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to withdraw the prize from Suu Kyi.

Jakarta Police said in a statement that a molotov cocktail was thrown into the embassy in the early hours of Sunday. The incident is still being investigated.

Lukman Edy, deputy chairman of House Commission II, which oversees home affairs, has urged the Indonesian government to take stronger measures in condemning Myanmar.

"If evidence reveals that the Myanmar government has allowed its military to commit crimes against humanity and genocide, Indonesia must request [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Asean to kick Myanmar out of the organization and apply political and economic sanctions to the country," he said, as quoted by Antara.