Indonesia voted against a UN General Assembly resolution related to the responsibility to protect (R2P), joining a minority of nations, which raises concerns about its commitment to preventing crimes against humanity. While officials claim that they do not oppose R2P, this decision aligns Indonesia with countries like China and North Korea, necessitating a dialogue on the implementation of the principle.
The recent voting at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has revealed Indonesia’s controversial stance regarding the responsibility to protect (R2P) principle, which is aimed at preventing crimes against humanity. The resolution, introduced by Croatia, received overwhelming support from 115 member states; however, Indonesia was among the 15 nations that voted against it. This vote positions Indonesia alongside countries such as China and North Korea, raising concerns about its commitment to human rights protections. Despite this, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s director general for multilateral affairs, Febrian Ruddyard, asserted that the nation does not oppose R2P itself, noting that all UN member states had previously agreed to it during the 2005 World Summit. Instead, he argued that the issue has been sufficiently addressed since then, and any discrepancies regarding its implementation need to be resolved before further discussions take place. R2P principles were established to ensure that nations protect their populations from mass atrocities, following the international community’s failures in preventing tragedies like the Rwandan genocide and the Srebrenica massacre.
The responsibility to protect (R2P) is an international norm that emerged in response to the failure of the international community to protect vulnerable populations during mass atrocities, particularly highlighted by events such as the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. Adopted at the UN World Summit in 2005, R2P affirms that sovereign states have a responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. If they fail, the international community has the responsibility to intervene, using diplomatic, humanitarian, and other peaceful means, and in some cases, military intervention. However, the application of R2P remains controversial and has sparked significant debate among member states, particularly regarding its implementation and the circumstances under which international intervention is justified.
In summary, Indonesia’s recent vote against the UN resolution concerning R2P has prompted scrutiny regarding its dedication to preventing crimes against humanity. While the Indonesian government maintains that it does not oppose the R2P principle itself, the alignment with predominantly undemocratic nations in this vote raises important questions about its commitment to international human rights norms. Moving forward, it is essential for the international community to engage in dialogue to address concerns surrounding the application of R2P and to ensure the protection of vulnerable populations globally.
Original Source: www.thejakartapost.com
