In 2023, Indonesia will become the Chair of ASEAN. With this position, President Jokowi is well utilized. The Indonesian government is trying to maintain peace in ASEAN, as well as promoting democracy in Myanmar. The people of Myanmar have the right to democracy and to be free from the grip of the Junta, so they can live in peace and quiet.
ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nation) is an economic and political union of a number of countries in Southeast Asia which was established on August 8, 1967 in Thailand. Indonesia is an active member of ASEAN, apart from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Timor Leste.
Indonesia will become Chair of ASEAN in 2023. This position is appreciated by the public because it can advance the economy, both in the ASEAN region and throughout Indonesia. Apart from the economic field, the position of Chair of ASEAN is also put to good use to create peace and democracy in all ASEAN countries.
It has been 2 years now that the people of Myanmar have suffered from the cruelty of the Junta. There have been many victims from civilians, some have even lost their lives. When the leader of the Myanmar Junta was coming to Indonesia for the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, President Jokowi had diplomacy with him. The main goal is to urge an end to violence, for the sake of peace in Myanmar.
At the 2021 ASEAN Summit, five ASEAN Consensus Points were agreed on Myanmar, the contents of which are: First, violence must stop immediately in Myanmar and all parties must exercise complete restraint. Second, a constructive dialogue between all relevant parties must begin immediately to find a peaceful solution for the interests of the people.
Third, the special envoy of the Chair of ASEAN will facilitate the mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the Secretary General of ASEAN. Fourth, ASEAN will provide humanitarian assistance through the AHA Center (The ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management). Fifth, special envoys and delegations will visit Myanmar to meet with all relevant parties.
During a meeting with Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, President Jokowi stated that Singapore and Indonesia both regretted the lack of progress in implementing the ASEAN Five Consensus Points in Myanmar. Singapore will continue to work with Indonesia, ASEAN members and ASEAN partners such as the UN to push for the implementation of the Five Points of Consensus.
When the ASEAN Consensus is violated even though there was an agreement 2 years earlier, it is very unfortunate. Indonesia and Singapore are working together so that the situation in Myanmar improves and there will be no more riots that harm civilians. Southeast Asia must be peaceful and there should be no wars between countries or internal conflicts.
The atrocities of the Myanmar junta made President Jokowi nervous. During the 2023 ASEAN Summit in May, Jakarta, the President is trying to put pressure on the junta leader , Min Aung Hlaing, to stop the violence in Myanmar, so that there are no more victims. President Jokowi is thinking about the safety and psychological factors of Myanmar citizens, so that they are not pressured by the junta.
President Jokowi said that he would hold a special meeting at the summit. So there is talk of a crisis in Myanmar. In a sense, when the leader of the Myanmar junta arrives in Jakarta, audiences and diplomacy can be held so that he can be persuaded to stop the violence against the people.
Another aim of this special meeting is for dialogue and reconciliation, so that there is peace and democracy in Myanmar. Because as a neighboring country, Indonesia is certainly sad when people’s rights are revoked by the junta. When they behave arrogantly, then democracy is uprooted and might turn into a country ruled by tyranny.
President Jokowi’s attitude should be appreciated because he dared to confront the junta leadership directly. The method is not by arguing, but by the President’s signature diplomacy. It is hoped that with this meeting, the junta will reconsider what impact this will have, when casualties continue to fall in Myanmar.
The health and safety of the people of Myanmar is also thought by President Jokowi as a form of empathy, because they are neighbors and brothers in the ASEAN region. They are ordinary people who deserve protection from their leaders, not unlimited cruelty and terror. Don’t let there be mass slaughter like the holocaust decades ago.
When President Jokowi, all representatives of ASEN countries to have diplomacy with the leadership of the Myanmar junta, there will be solidarity between the leaders of ASEAN countries. Later there will appear cohesiveness and a sense of friendship, as well as high brotherhood among them. The goal is to bring peace throughout the ASEAN region.
The pressure from President Jokowi and leaders of other ASEAN countries on the leadership of the military junta is not an insult, but a way to save the people of Myanmar, so that their human rights are protected. Violence, in any way, must stop immediately.
Indonesia pushed for democracy in Myanmar and stopped the Junta’s cruelty to its own people. Peace and democracy in ASEAN must be upheld, including in Myanmar.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
