Novy Lumanauw, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo calls for Asean summit on the Myanmar crisis, as the death toll from the anti-coup protests rises.

"I will immediately hold talks with Asean chair Brunei Darussalam's Sultan [Hassanal Bolkiah] for an immediate Asean high-level meeting on Myanmar's crisis," Jokowi said at the Bogor Palace in West Java on Friday.

The president expressed his condolences to the victims and their grieving families. He called for an immediate halt to violence in Myanmar to prevent more victims.

"The safety and the wellbeing of the people must be the main priority. Indonesia also urges for an immediate dialogue and reconciliation to restore democracy, peace, and stability in Myanmar," Jokowi said.

On March 2, Asean held an informal ministerial meeting to discuss an array of topics, including Myanmar military coup. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi took the floor to express concern over the increasingly volatile crisis in Myanmar.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) revealed on Tuesday the coup's death toll reached 149.

"We have, however, managed to confirm that at least 149 people have been arbitrarily deprived of their lives since February 1, as a result of unlawful use of lethal force against peaceful protestors in Myanmar," the OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.

"Of these, at least 11 were killed on Monday, and 57 over the weekend. There are many more reports of further killings that we have not been able to corroborate yet."

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-calls-for-asean-summit-on-myanma