REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan expects a detailed explanation by the Myanmar government on the bloody conflict involving Myanmar`s Muslim Rohingya and Rakhine Buddhists ethnic group. "I expect there would be an explanation by the Myanmar government on this issue which has become a major concern," said Surin on Wednesday.

The conflict in Rakhine State could disrupt the harmony of ASEAN member countries. Therefore, in order to create an ASEAN Community by 2015, the conflict must be resolved immediately, said Surin. 

"We also have to seek support (from the international community) to understand the issue thoroughly," noted Surin. "We also need to find who are behind this." 

ASEAN seeks to gather information and data about the conflict from a number of parties, such as the UN refugee agency UNHCR and Myanmar's neighboring countries.

Citizenship status of the Rohingya community is still unclear because Myanmar government considers them to be illegal immigrants. The international human rights group, Amnesty International, reported that the Rohingya minority became the main target when riots broke out and continued to experience human rights violations.

The group also said that the security forces, including police and soldiers, have detained hundreds of Rohingyas. A state of emergency has been imposed in Rakhine since June after clashes erupted between Buddhists and Muslims. Myanmar President Thein Sein said early this month that the ethnic clashes could be ended by sending the Rohingnya to a third country or a UNHCR camp.