As a Sovereign Nation, Indonesia Should Empathise with Iran

Indonesia has suspended discussions on the Peace Council.

The Israeli–American attack on Iran has heightened tensions in the Middle East, with exchanges of fire between the two sides continuing to the present.

Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs for the 2019–2024 period, argued that Indonesia’s position should be empathetic towards Iran. “It should be straightforward, the government should express condolences. That is the main thing first, then (whether to) help, mediate or what (else),” he said while delivering a Ramadan Public Lecture at a campus mosque of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Saturday night, 7 March.

That stance should be taken by the leaders of a country towards a sovereign state. Moreover, Iran participated in the Bandung Conference that produced the Bandung Principles.

The government’s attitude toward the Israel–United States conflict with Iran has provoked the impression that it fears America, prompting questions from the public about where our sovereignty lies.

Indonesia has, after all, hosted the Asia–Africa Summit attended by Asian and African nations. The conference produced the Bandung Principles that fostered pride among the peoples of Asia and Africa.

A key point of the Bandung Principles is that no nation should enslave another. That was also the basis for support to Palestine at the time.

“Well, we certainly will not immediately go to war with Iran’s enemies, but empathising with the events Iran experiences is important,” he said.

Expressing empathy towards Iran is important as a form of our sovereignty as a sovereign nation. “Just because we are sovereign, we must take a stand,” said Mahfud. (E-2)