Jakarta – The 44th General Session of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) has been officially opened by President Jokowi. The activity, which was attended by parliamentary leaders from Southeast Asian countries, was attended by 9 ASEAN Parliamentarians besides Indonesia, representatives from 17 Observer and Guest countries, as well as representatives from 9 International Organizations. A total of 568 delegates will attend.
The Chairperson of the Indonesian Parliament, Puan Maharani said the 44th AIPA General Assembly was one of the pinnacles of the chairmanship of the Indonesian Parliament in AIPA, in line with Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN in 2023.
“As President of AIPA 2023 and Leader of the 44th AIPA Session, the DPR is ready to be a good host,” said Puan.
According to him, the timing of holding the 44th General Assembly of AIPA with the theme ‘Responsive Parliaments for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN’ is very appropriate, because it is being held at a time when tensions are escalating due to big power competition in the region.
“When the earth is getting hotter, due to climate change, when there is a disruption of the global supply chain (global supply chain). Therefore, it is hoped that Parliament can play a role and be responsive in responding to various challenges, as well as contributing to overcoming them,” he said.
Furthermore, Puan explained that several things discussed at the 44th AIPA were the need to reduce geopolitical tension due to competition between the big powers in Southeast Asia. Bearing in mind that stability is a prerequisite for economic development and people’s welfare in Southeast Asia.
“Including AIPA’s support for 5 points in the consensus for resolving the Myanmar situation. Not only that, it is also an effort to build a green economy and renewable energy in Southeast Asia as support for handling the climate crisis,” he concluded.
In the same vein, the Head of the Regional Cooperation Desk of the DPR RI Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Putu Supadma Rudana said that the 44th AIPA General Assembly in Jakarta was able to make ASEAN a major force in the Asia Pacific region and globally.
“AIPA has actually become a puller from various global powers. I encourage ASEAN to have an ASEAN Parliament to strengthen ASEAN’s interests in a parliamentary way or in the DPR RI. We see that with the ASEAN parliament, Southeast Asian countries will become one ASEAN power and one family or ASEAN family. With the presence of an ASEAN parliament, all the safeguarding of their interests and potential can be carried out together,” said Putu.
At AIPA, continued Putu, its members currently consist of 10 ASEAN countries, of which 9 countries were invited and 1 country was not invited, namely Myanmar. Meanwhile, Myanmar is experiencing challenges to democracy where the democratization process has not been implemented.
“Indeed, AIPA and ASEAN continue to oversee the process of democratization in Myanmar. AIPA, if you look at the composition of the 10 countries, some countries use a parliamentary concept and the rest adhere to a presidential democratic system,” explained the legislator from Bali.
Therefore, Putu emphasized that Indonesia as Chair of AIPA pushed for a five-point consensus to be implemented and implemented by Myanmar which is currently led by a military junta due to an undemocratic takeover of power or a coup.
Putu Supadma hopes that the general assembly of AIPA can produce resolutions which, if implemented, can benefit all Indonesian people and the region.
“This is Indonesia’s momentum to show its leadership in the region as chairman of AIPA and ASEAN (Asean chairmanship 2023). We certainly hope that the implementation of the 44th AIPA session can run well and provide benefits to all Indonesian people, “concluded the Member of Commission VI of the DPR RI.