MPR Leadership Reminds Prabowo to Remain Consistent with Constitution Regarding Mediation

Jakarta — Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW), Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), has reminded President Prabowo Subianto to maintain consistency in upholding the constitution if he intends to mediate in the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

“The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that President Prabowo is prepared to conduct mediation, should both parties agree, and is even willing to travel to Tehran, requires a reminder about its constitutional framework,” HNW stated in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.

He noted that this would maintain consistency with the fourth paragraph of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, which calls, among other things, for active participation in realising world peace. As a sovereign nation maintaining an active, independent role in promoting peace, ending war, and preparing a conducive situation in the Middle East and other international regions.

HNW also expressed deep concern about the ongoing war, which is not only waged through attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, distancing the region from “peace,” which undermines the legitimacy of the Peace Board and questions Indonesia’s relevance within it.

“Indeed, attacks by the US and Israel on Iran have distanced the realisation of peace and stability in the Middle East and global security. However, the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan also does not promote peace as expected by the Constitution. Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that President Prabowo, in addition to visiting Tehran, should also visit Islamabad and Kabul to initiate mediation to end the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan—two Muslim nations that are very close to Indonesia and greatly respect Indonesia—so that both may quickly cease their conflict and return to peace,” he said.

HNW, as he is commonly known, also agreed that dialogue and diplomacy should be prioritised by each country, all of which remain UN members, as stipulated in the UN Charter Declaration Article 2(4). This must be done whilst respecting international law and UN conventions.

“All forms of war should cease immediately, as they distance peace, only produce casualties, humanitarian tragedy, instability, and harm all parties, whilst damaging the international order and law recognised by the UN,” HNW stated.

Moreover, HNW continued, in response to Israeli and US attacks on Iran, Iran has not only retaliated against Israel but also against several US military bases in neighbouring countries, such as in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and even Saudi Arabia.

“This has the potential to expand the conflict, as each of these nations feels its sovereignty violated, and civilians from these countries also risk becoming casualties affected by these retaliatory strikes. And all those harmed are fellow Muslim nations, who could also become victims of the Greater Israel expansionist project,” HNW said.

HNW added that to better implement constitutional provisions regarding Indonesia’s role in promoting world peace, President Prabowo should also engage UN agencies that, through the Secretary-General, have already expressed their rejection of this war and all its escalations, and maximise the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) forum to promote peace among its member states.

“Indonesia should also propose to the UN and OIC to promptly convene a General Assembly or extraordinary summit at the level of heads of state to quickly halt the US and Israeli war on Iran, as well as the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan, so that negative escalation can be stopped immediately. This is especially important as these conflicts also involve countries within the OIC. This aligns with the first objective of the OIC’s founding, as stated in the OIC Charter, which is to strengthen and cement brotherhood and solidarity among OIC member states,” he said.

Furthermore, HNW, who also serves as a Member of the People’s Representative Council (DPR RI) from the Jakarta II electoral district, which includes overseas constituents, also reminded the Indonesian Government to promptly implement effective protection for Indonesian citizens in the conflict zones of Iran and countries involved in the conflict, as well as those in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Protection for Indonesian citizens, including those currently in war-affected regions in the Middle East, is also a constitutional obligation of the Indonesian state, making it a matter of great urgency given the increasingly critical situation with potential for expanded and prolonged escalation,” he concluded.