Unpad Academic Community Criticises BoP and ART Policy

Senior academics and the wider academic community at Padjadjaran University (Unpad) issued the Padjadjaran Appeal, criticising Indonesia’s membership of the Board of Peace (BoP) and the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), as well as the military aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Atwar Bajari, chair of Unpad’s Council of Professors, Indonesia’s stance in diplomacy and its independent foreign policy is currently undergoing a severe test amid various dynamics. ‘From President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to join the Board of Peace, to the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), the substance of which is highly detrimental to Indonesia, and to the military aggression against Iran conducted by Israel with American support,’ he said in a written statement on Friday, 6 March 2026.

The Padjadjaran Appeal notes that the opening of the 1945 Constitution positions Indonesia firmly on foreign policy principles that support freedom as a right of all nations and the abolition of colonialism everywhere for reasons of humanity and justice; Indonesia also participates in upholding a world order based on independence, lasting peace and social justice. The group of Unpad professors strongly condemned the military action by Israel with US support against the Islamic Republic of Iran, arguing that attacking a sovereign state constitutes an extreme escalation that breaches international law, threatens regional stability, and raises the risk of a broader regional conflict. ‘If such practices are permitted to continue, the international legal order based on the rule of law will lose its moral and legal legitimacy,’ said Atwar.

The Council of Professors also expressed deep sorrow at the deaths of Iran’s leaders and other civilians. The tragedy is seen not only as a loss for Iran, but also as a dangerous precedent in international relations in which political murder of a head of state or leader could become normalised as a tool of foreign policy. The Unpad professors urged the Indonesian government to act firmly and consistently with the principles of an independent and active foreign policy, and with the constitutional mandate to participate in maintaining world order based on independence, lasting peace and social justice. ‘The President should urgently conduct a comprehensive evaluation of membership in the Board of Peace,’ he said. The House of Representatives was also urged to conduct a critical study of the broad impacts of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and of Indonesia’s membership in the Board of Peace. The Padjadjaran Appeal was also directed at the United Nations (UN) and the international community to immediately halt all forms of military aggression and to press all parties to return to the diplomatic path and to seek resolution in accordance with international law.

Editors Note: Cholil Nafis: Prabowo pledges to resign from BoP if it is not beneficial.