Indonesia had been running a campaign for this seat on the “true partner for peace” theme, and indeed during the past year, Indonesia had attempted a peacemaking overture in Afghanistan and offered to mediate in Myanmar’s troubles with its ethnic minority.

However, in the absence of a real peacebuilding platform, these overtures are unlikely to be sustainable, especially now that the campaign for the UNSC has been won.

Indonesia’s claim as the “true partner for peace” is actually not unfounded. As one of the most diverse countries, its potential for conflicts, even a breakup, is not minor.

Indeed, various conflicts have marred the country throughout the years, but the fact that Indonesia remains intact as a country with the same territorial size as when it was proclaimed more than 70 years ago is a testament to Indonesia’s skills at managing these conflicts.

Since reformasi, these skills seemed to have been honed and have reached a level of proficiency that cannot be belittled. While the separatist conflict in Aceh was facilitated by the Finland-based Crisis Management
Initiative in 2005, Indonesia was able to solve a number of ethnic and religious conflicts, such as in Ambon in Maluku and Poso in Central Sulawesi, pretty much on its own wherewithal.

In the past, Indonesia has also been quite active in peacemaking activities in its immediate neighborhood. Indonesia’s role was instrumental in bringing peace to war-torn Cambodia in 1991.

Indonesia also brought peace to the southern Philippines in 1993 and then again in 2013 on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. As a nonclaimant country, Indonesia also actively facilitated the confidence-building measures in the South China Sea between 1989 and 1995.

Not only was Indonesia active in peacemaking enterprises, it is also among major contributors to UN peacekeeping operations (PKO).

Since 1957 when Indonesia first sent the Garuda contingent as part of the UN PKO in Egypt, until today 27 Garuda contingents have been deployed to various parts of the world.

The opening up of the Indonesian Peace and Security Center (IPSC) in Sentul, West Java, in 2014 also further reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the keeping of peace in the world.

Yet Indonesia can still improve much in the area of peacebuilding. The first and most major improvement that Indonesia can make is developing its repository of experience in peacebuilding.

There have been many books written by various figures involved in this enterprise, including those still on active duty, such as Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

As a follow-up, a white paper on an “Indonesian peacebuilding platform” can be developed, covering not only the already-consolidated experience with military and police PKOs, but also the possibility of establishing a corps of Indonesian civilian peacekeepers.

The white paper should also contain recommendations on institutional development. A dedicated function should be established as the unit-in-charge for Indonesian peacebuilding efforts, either at the Foreign Ministry or the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal & Security Affairs Minister.

In addition to coordinating peacebuilding efforts in the various ministries and agencies, this unit should also be equipped with an early warning system capability to scan at least the immediate neighborhood’s environment for potential conflict breakout.

The next task is to create an inventory of senior figures with sufficient peacemaking experience that could be deployed whenever a request for “good offices” comes, to mediate in conflicts, either in the framework of conflict de-escalation or outright peace negotiations. A team of readily deployable and capable individuals to assist the work of the “good officers” should also be formed.

Finally, Indonesia’s peacekeeping operations should be complemented by the establishment of civilian peacekeepers. Several young Indonesians are serving in various capacities in UN PKOs around the world, and a number of Indonesian nongovernmental organizations are quite active in delivering humanitarian assistance in various conflicts.

These potentials need to be consolidated and coordinated to create a group of civilian peacekeepers ready to serve under the Indonesian flag.

These peacekeepers are especially important in the phase following the brokering of peace, known as peacebuilding activities, which are designed to maintain peace and prevent the recurrence of violent conflicts among the involved parties and communities.

The activities in peacebuilding usually involve development of the rule of law and the state capacity to govern, and provision of humanitarian assistance and basic infrastructure.

These can be further strengthened with local economic development, in which conflicting communities are engaged to produce commodities with a value-added approach, through low-level technology, to foster greater economic cooperation.

This can be done either through an establishment of a joint small (household) factory or with one group playing the role of supplier of raw materials and the other engaged in the production cycle.

The marketing strategy is then done jointly by the conflicting communities. The intention of this activity is to build economic interdependence among the conflicting communities, which can provide an important stumbling block for the recurrence of conflict.

Indonesian businesses can also be engaged in this initiative by serving as off-takers of the commodities produced by the communities. This can also further consolidate Indonesia’s presence in the region as well as provide the basis for Indonesian businesses to expand in the future.

Indonesia should capitalize on the opportunity presented by the seat in the UNSC to develop its peacebuilding platform.

If attended resolutely, Indonesia’s nonpermanent membership can serve as a potent platform that Indonesian foreign policy can benefit from for many years to come.

________________________________________________

The writer is a foreign policy analyst.

Popular

Stocks sink, oil surges on reports of Middle East attacks

Israel launches strike against Iran: US media

North Sulawesi volcano eruption forces evacuations, airport closure