A picture taken on June 5, 2017 shows a man standing outside the Qatar Airways branch in the Saudi capital Riyadh, after it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia following a severing of relations between major gulf states and gas-rich Qatar. Arab nations including Saudi Arabia and Egypt cut ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the region in years.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Arab nations have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, Monday (5/6). The countries terminated diplomatic ties following accusations that Qatar was supporting extremism. The move has affected the travel of Indonesian citizens to several Middle Eastern countries. The government is currently monitoring the latest developments.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, followed by Yemen, the Maldives and Libya, accuse Qatar of funding a group that is protected by Iran.
AFP reported that the Gulf states have banned their citizens from traveling to Qatar and have also instructed Qatari citizens in their countries to leave within 14 days. Saudi Arabia has closed its borders with Qatar, halting the supply of food and basic necessities into Qatar.
Riyadh said the move it has taken is a consequence of acts carried out by the Qatari ruler. Qatar has denied the accusations of its neighbors, with Doha denying giving support to extremist groups. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that the termination of diplomatic relations is based on baseless and untrue claims.
Impact
The government of Indonesia has prepared anticipatory measures in response to the crisis. One of the industries that has been affected is the air travel industry.
Last night, a minor pilgrimage (umrah) group of 20 people scheduled to fly on Qatar Airways were directed to board a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight instead. Meanwhile, an umrah group scheduled to fly today will be diverted to Garuda Indonesia. The pilgrimage group consists of around 40 people.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that he has been coordinating with the Foreign Affairs Ministry on the effect of airport closures on the flights of umrah groups from Indonesia.
“The decision for now is that umrah flights from Indonesia should not transit in Doha. Passengers that have already bought Qatar Airways tickets will be moved to Garuda Indonesia or Saudi Arabian Airlines,” Budi Karya said.
The airport closures, Budi said, would certainly complicate the transportation of people and goods, including those from Indonesia. The government intends take the best option to respond to the unfolding crisis.
General Manager of Qatar Airways in Indonesia, Ravi Goonetilleke, said that as of this moment, he had not been informed of any decision from company headquarters regarding Qatar Airways flights to and from Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said the Qatar crisis would not have any effect on the LPG trade between Qatar and Indonesia.
