Vice President Jusuf Kalla, representing Indonesia, gives a speech at the general debate session of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, Thursday (21/9). Issues of concern to Indonesia at the UN General Assembly this year include the issue of international peace and security, sustainable development, human rights progress and UN reform.
NEW YORK, KOMPAS – Indonesia has offered a differing view from those of other countries (despite the lack of further elaboration) regarding the crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine state at the United Nations General Assembly’s general debate session. The view is focused on concrete humanitarian aid efforts for victims through the 4+1 formula.
The view was delivered by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday (21/9/2017) afternoon or Friday morning Jakarta time. “Indonesia feels the concern of the international community regarding the violence in Myanmar,” Kalla said in his speech.
“We have offered the 4+1 formula to the Myanmar government and put the people’s needs and welfare as the focus,” Kalla said as reported by Kompas journalists Mh Samsul Hadi and Andy Riza Hidayat from New York.
Unfortunately, there was no further elaboration from Kalla at the forum. However, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has also represented the Indonesian government in explaining the 4+1 formula at a separate meeting at the UN headquarters.
This week, Retno attended a special meeting on the Myanmar crisis held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and a lunch held by UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson. In these occasions, Retno elaborated on Indonesia’s humanitarian and peace diplomatic efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis.
The crisis, which has resulted in more than 420,000 Rohingya people fleeing to Bangladesh, was the major focus of many world leaders in the general debate session. French President Emmanuel Macron, for instance, said that the crisis was genocide.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari likened the crisis to the ethnic cleansings in Bosnia in 1995 and in Rwanda in 1994. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in his speech before the session was opened that the Myanmar authorities should cease its military assaults.
Despite comprising only two sentences, Kalla’s statements on the Myanmar crisis clearly highlighted Indonesia’ different perspective on the crisis. “This is what is acceptable by both sides. This is what we or Myanmar can do,” Kalla told reporters after his speech.
“We cannot use military force or deploy peacekeeping troops there as this is a domestic issue,” Kalla said.
The 4+1 formula was delivered by Retno to Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in early September. It comprises four elements to tackle the Rakhine crisis plus the implementation of the recommendation of the UN Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The four formulas include (1) restoring stability and security, (2) maximizing self-restraint and avoiding violence, (3) protecting all in Rakhine regardless of ethnicity and religion, and (4) opening access for humanitarian aid.
As a follow-up to these formulas, Indonesia delivered humanitarian aid for the Rakhine people in Bangladesh and other victims of violence in Rakhine.
The importance of stability
In his speech at the general debate session, Kalla also called for world peace and stability. Indonesia is of the opinion that world peace and stability may boost people’s welfare globally. “Indonesia believes that building a global ecosystem that is peaceful and stable is possible,” Kalla said in his 1,328-word speech that he delivered in 14 minutes and 10 seconds.
In such a peaceful and stable global ecosystem, Kalla brought up one of the world’s oldest ongoing conflicts, namely that between Palestine and Israel. “We will never surrender. Palestine is at the heart of Indonesia’s foreign policy. Indonesia will continuously support Palestine,” he said.
Kalla also requested the support of all assembly participants on Indonesia’s bid as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2019-2020.
People’s Tribunal
In the Permanent People’s Tribunal session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the panel of judges had issued a verdict that the Myanmar government was responsible for the genocide of the Rohingya people and for war crimes against the Kachin people.
The seven-judge panel, led by Argentinian Daniel Feierstein and of which Indonesian Nursyahbani Katjasungkana is a member, heard testimonies from a number of parties in court sessions held in London, the UK, and Kuala Lumpur.
The panel of judges also issued a recommendation to cease all violence against the Rohingya and Kachin people, as well as other minority groups.
