Minister Pigai Maximises UN Human Rights Council Diplomacy to Secure Release of 9 Indonesian Nationals Detained by Israel

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Natalius Pigai said the government continues to strive to protect Indonesian citizens, including journalists and activists detained by Israeli forces, through diplomatic channels and international mechanisms. He said the government has issued a condemnation via the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, and diplomatic coordination is ongoing.

‘We have conveyed, through the Foreign Ministry, our condemnation. Secondly, the Foreign Ministry has begun coordinating via diplomatic channels,’ Pigai told reporters in Bandung on Wednesday (20 May).

He explained that the Ministry of Human Rights cannot directly intervene in Israel because Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with the country. ‘The issue is that the Ministry of Human Rights cannot directly enter Israel because there are no diplomatic ties,’ he said.

According to Pigai, the government is utilising a range of instruments and international mechanisms to protect Indonesian citizens affected by the incident. ‘But we are also using the instruments and mechanisms of international law to protect our people. We cooperate with the Foreign Ministry, where the Foreign Ministry is at the front line to mobilise international instruments,’ he added.

Pigai added that communication with the United Nations is also conducted through a single channel via the Foreign Ministry. ‘Is there communication from the Ministry of Human Rights with the UN? Yes, we do it through the Foreign Ministry. We are one door,’ he said.

He also highlighted Indonesia’s position at the United Nations Human Rights Council, which can serve as an additional instrument in protecting Indonesian citizens. ‘But we use the instrument because we are a member of the UNHRC, especially as today we hold the presidency of the UNHRC. We also use UN instruments and institutions to secure protection for Indonesian citizens,’ Pigai said.

However, Pigai stressed that the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council is independent and bound by international codes of ethics. ‘Indeed, it is a person from our country, but once appointed as President of the UNHRC he is independent. Therefore there is a Code of Conduct preventing him from bias or subjectivity,’ he concluded.