Indonesia to help heal Rakhine conflict scars

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his country is looking to help build shelters, schools and community centres and improve economic opportunities in Myanmar's Rakhine state as it recovers from scars of ethnic conflict.

"It is very important for us to offer a sense of hope to people, so that there are opportunities for employment and further reconciliation," he told reporters yesterday, giving an assessment of his two-day visit there this week. "We have ahead of us not only the business of reconstructing physical infrastructure, but also rebuilding trust and security between the two sides."

His visit came some six months after reports of violence between Arakan Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims emerged.

The conflict continues to see an influx of boat people from the area to neighbouring countries. Indonesia has, in recent years, also sought to play a role as South-east Asia's biggest nation to help resolve regional conflict.