/rcg/ Rohingya Crisis General - Indonesia Recruiting Mujahideen

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Indonesian Islamists recruiting volunteers for Rohingya jihad

>Indonesia’s extremist Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has called for volunteers to wage jihad in Buddhist-majority Myanmar in defence of its Muslim Rohingya population, raising fears the latest outbreak of violence has become a lightning rod for foreign Islamic militants.

>Indonesian President Joko Widodo yesterday called for an immediate end to the latest violence against Rohingya and sent Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to discuss the matter with Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi.

>“Real action is needed, not just statements and condemnations. The government is committed to helping the humanitarian crisis, in synergy with Indonesian civil society organisations and the international community,” Mr Joko said.

>Anger in Indonesia at the persecution of Rohingya has sparked several days of protests outside the now-heavily guarded Myanmar embassy in Jakarta. Early on Sunday a petrol bomb was thrown at the embassy.

>FPI spokesman Slamet Maarif said yesterday the group had not yet decided whether it would send volunteers to Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State, where military operations have forced almost 90,000 Rohingya to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh, or simply raise funds for the cause but that all recruits must be “willing to die for their religion”.

>“We want to help in any way we can. We are even prepared to wage jihad there if need be. That is why one of the main requirements for our recruits is the willingness to die as a martyr,” he said.

>“Muslims are being slaughtered there. Our volunteers will be facing armed military officers and civilians there. That is why we want young men who are willing to die for their religion.”