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s Jakarta seeks further opportunities to provide support beyond humanitarian assistance to assist conflicts resolutions in Rakhine State, the Myanmar government insists that it is in urgent need for shelters for the internally displaced people (IDP).

During a dialogue with Minister of Border Affairs Lt. Gen. Thein Htay in Sittwe, Rakhine State, on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa discussed the possibility of helping the Myanmar government deal with the issue of citizenship of the Rohingya people.

“Apart from [providing] shelters, we are looking at education, school construction and economic opportunities [for refugees]. I know that you are making efforts [to address] the area of citizenship. This is the kind of support we can provide,” Marty said at the meeting

However, Thein quickly responded that the government of Myanmar could not decide on this matter alone.

“Whether or not we recognize the Rohingya people will be decided by the 60 million people of Myanmar. Please understand this matter. We will not take the issue of Rohingya as our top priority. It is not so simple,” Thein said.

He maintained that building shelters for the refugees should be the main priority as the rainy season was on the horizon.

“After shelters, we will review the issue of livelihood, education, health, water, sanitation and whatever their needs are,” he added.

Over 10,500 tents, 1,900 temporary long-houses and 19,300 houses are needed for the IDP. The government and aid relief organizations have erected nearly 8,000 tents, 500 temporary shelters and 250 houses.

During the meeting, Thein asked the Indonesian minister to encourage the government and people of Myanmar so that they remain optimistic despite the conflict.

After the discussions, Thein took the Indonesian foreign minister to two IDP camps near Sittwe to meet with the Rakhine people.

During the visit, the Rakhine IDPs expressed their dislike of the Rohingya people whom they
refer to as “the Bengalis”.

“They are tricky people. They are deceitful,” Thein said, translating the opinions of the refugees. The refugees also expressed anxiety over hostility from the opposing side.

Tuesday’s visit wrapped up a series of visits made by the minister on Monday to IDP camps in the townships of Kyauktaw, Pauktaw and Maungdaw accompanied by Thein.

In each camps, Marty had the opportunity to talk with the IDPs.

“Thank you for presenting your immediate needs and concerns. I will talk with all sides to ensure that progress is made,” the minister told a gathering of over 100 men during his visit to the Kyauktaw township.

As soon as the minister invited the audience to voice their concerns, a young man wearing a white shirt and sarong stood up and said the people needed somewhere to settle permanently.

“We have lost our land and cattle,” he said through a translator.

In another camp in the township of Pauktaw, the minister was concerned that children could not attend school after the only primary school in the area was set on fire during the conflict.

“Since June, the students have been unable to attend school,” Thein said.

The sectarian conflict between the Rakhine and the Rohingya in Rakhine State first broke out in May 2012 in the township of Yanbye. Further conflict flared up in the township of Taungup in June, nearly a week after the first incident.