UII Criticises Government's Stance on Middle East Conflict; BoP and ART Also Under Scrutiny

Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) has issued an official statement regarding the tensions in the Middle East region and the latest developments in the practice of nationhood and statehood in Indonesia. In the statement circulated, UII Rector Fathul Wahid, who represents the university’s academic community, assessed that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has not shown sufficient determination in responding to the military attacks by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The government’s stance, he argued, reflects weakness in implementing the policy of free and active foreign policy that has long underpinned Indonesian diplomacy. Fathul also expressed deep concern about various other policies and political steps that could undermine the sovereignty of the country in international economic cooperation, betray the constitutional commitment to the rejection of all forms of colonialism, restrict civil liberties through the criminalisation of activists, ignore citizens’ rights in the implementation of national strategic projects, and present public policies that are not fully accountable and transparent.