RI's UNSC seat bid gets mixed reaction

RI's UNSC seat bid gets mixed reaction

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's bid for a permanent seat on a reformed United Nations
Security Council is receiving a mixed reaction.

Timor Leste Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta expressed his
country's support for Indonesia's bid on Tuesday, when he told
reporters, "I will voice our support to Indonesia at the 59th UN
General Assembly session on Wednesday."

Antara news agency quoted him as saying that Indonesia, which
had helped resolve regional conflicts including those in Cambodia
and the southern Philippines, could represent Asia and other
countries with large Muslim populations.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda
expressed the country's ambition for a permanent seat on the
Security Council during the UN General Assembly session late on
Monday in New York.

Hassan said moderate Islam must be given a voice on the
council, adding that Indonesia, as a democratic Muslim state,
could be that voice.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a noted expert in international issues at
the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, welcomed Hassan's proposal
for a seat on the UN's top decision-making body.

"Indonesia qualifies for a permanent seat on the UNSC. Pak
Hassan's demand has enough foundation: Indonesia is currently the
world's largest Muslim nation and the third largest democracy in
the world," she told The Jakarta Post.

She said Indonesia should have a better chance of getting a
seat on the council compared to countries like Japan, Germany,
India and Brazil, which all have bilateral problems with their
neighbors.

Japan, Germany, India and Brazil are also vying for permanent
membership on the Security Council.

The council has had the same five permanent members with veto
power -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States --
since the United Nations was established in the wake of World War
II.

Ten other nations are elected as nonpermanent members for two-
year terms each.

However, Bantarto Bandoro, a foreign policy expert at the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies, was pessimistic
that Indonesia could win a seat due to its tarnished image in the
international community.

He said the international community remained concerned over
Indonesia's handling of global issues such as terrorism.

"Many countries still perceive that Indonesia, as one of the
world largest Muslim countries, is one of the sources of
terrorists," he said.

He said that with its image troubles, Indonesia would have
trouble lobbying other countries for support, including fellow
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"I think there are other countries better qualified for this
seat. Indonesia has yet to contribute much to handling
international problems.

"As a member of the Security Council, the country would have
to have comprehensive concepts in dealing with international
issues, so it will take a long time for Indonesia to win the
seat," Bantarto said.

He added that India and Japan's bids for the same seat would
make it even more difficult for Indonesia to win the backing of
Asian countries.