From the beginning, Indonesia was established by its founding fathers to become a global player. For instance, our constitution, which was written in 1945, clearly states that all forms of occupation and colonization across the world must be terminated as they are against human rights and justice
By Jakarta Globe on 10:30 pm Jan 12, 2015
Category Editorial, Front Page, Opinion
Tags: Charlie Hebdo, foreign policy
From the beginning, Indonesia was established by its founding fathers to become a global player. For instance, our constitution, which was written in 1945, clearly states that all forms of occupation and colonization across the world must be terminated as they are against human rights and justice.
Furthermore, our constitution makes it clear that one of the nation’s goals is to help maintain world peace based on freedom and social justice.
This implies that we are willing to help other nations gain their independence and actively play a role the international arena to help achieve world peace. And that’s exactly what Indonesia had been doing up to now, despite the country’s capacity as a middle power only, with limited military and economic resources to play a regional role, let alone a global one.
During these periods, Indonesia — blessed with brilliant foreign ministers from Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Ali Alatas, Hassan Wirajuda to Marty Natalegawa — always came up with ideas to find resolution of regional conflicts. Indonesia is a bedrock for international peace.
While it’s clear that President Joko Widodo’s foreign policy priority is to serve his domestic interests, as a big nation Indonesia can’t afford to be inward-looking as it will be against the spirit of our constitution and kills many opportunities for Indonesia to help others.
In the wake of the Paris attack, Indonesia must come up with a proposal to bridge the growing division between the West and Islam. Successive Indonesian governments have always been the voice of moderate and peaceful Islam.
Now, under Joko, the country has the capacity and credibility to boost this role.
