Indonesia has symbolically handed over two new schools in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in an effort to help spur a culture of peace and tolerance in the Buddhist-majority country, the Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi was on a social mission in Sittwe in Rakhine state over the weekend to personally hand over state-sponsored humanitarian aid to its Southeast Asian neighbor, including two schools.

“The building of these two schools is part of Indonesia’s commitment to support inclusive development in Myanmar, particularly in education,” Retno said after the project’s unveiling ceremony in Rakhine on Saturday.

The building of the two schools, located in the villages of La Ma Chae and Thet Kay Pyia Ywar Ma around Sittwe, was financed through donations from the Indonesian public and managed by Pos Keadilan Peduli Umat (PKPU), a humanitarian organization that has been funneling aid into Myanmar.

With the addition of the two schools, Indonesia has built a total of six schools in the country.

The minister also conveyed her hopes that both state-sponsored schools would provide equal benefits to all communities in Sittwe.

“I hope the children of Rakhine state will be able to receive a formal education, but also learn about pluralism and tolerance so they can encourage peace,” she said.

Rakhine state’s chief minister, U Nyi Pu, conveyed her appreciation for Indonesia’s efforts.

Jakarta will also provide capacity building for teachers of the Indonesian International School in Yangon, the minister added. She handed over 10 containers of humanitarian aid that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo pledged late last year.

Indonesia has closely monitored the developments in Rakhine state, particularly following the outbreak of violence that occurred in October last year after attacks on policed border posts in the area.

The incident heightened tensions between Myanmar’s Buddhist majority and the oft-persecuted and stateless Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine, who have become victims of a crackdown by local security forces against the Oct. 9 attack perpetrators.

Refugees, residents and human rights groups have accused Myanmarese soldiers of committing summary executions, rape and arson since military operations started in the north of Rakhine state on Oct. 9.

Since then, at least 86 people have died and an estimated 66,000 more have been displaced and are fleeing into neighboring Bangladesh.

According to Daniel Awigra, ASEAN coordinator at the Indonesian chapter of the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Indonesia’s currently close ties to Myanmar can work well to restore the global image of Islam.

Brushing off concerns that Indonesia might be committing too many resources to the Rohingya issue, Daniel said Indonesia should continue reinforcing its soft power in ASEAN regarding human rights and democracy.

“The lessons Indonesia has learned from the democratic transition from the military junta of the Soeharto era can be very valuable for Myanmar. On the other hand, Indonesia must be able to demonstrate a face of Islam that is at once kind and peaceful,” he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

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