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Indonesia's stance on Uyghur is consistent, but questionable
While Indonesia claims to be a proponent of human rights, its policies on the international stage are tailored to each situation and can often appear to be contradictory.
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undefined (Antara/M. Irfan Ilmie)
I
t should not have come as a surprise that, in early October, Indonesia rejected a motion by the United States to hold a debate scrutinizing the alleged rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The government has maintained a consistent position on the Uyghur issue since 2019, when Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko stated that Indonesia would "not meddle in the internal affairs of China", despite the many demonstrations local Muslim solidarity groups held outside the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta and its consulates across the nation.
Three years ago, Indonesia argued that its stance was based on its recognition of a country’s sovereign right to manage its own domestic affairs so they did not spill over into other countries and territories. Its trust in China’s ability to manage the issue was proven, as the country skillfully persuaded the public to temper pressures through dialogue and provided clarifying information.
This time around, Indonesia stood with 18 other members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) against passing a draft resolution to hold “debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region”. Meanwhile, 11 other states abstained with only 17 states voting in favor.
According to coverage of the meeting on UN Web TV, Indonesia’s position drew on its belief that debate would not yield meaningful progress, as China did not support the move.
While it voted against the motion, Indonesia then pledged to “promote and protect human rights, including in Xinjiang”, which seemed contradictory and could be perceived as stalling an open discussion on human rights.
However, holding a debate would not automatically grant rights to Uyghur Muslims and other minority groups. As such, Indonesia’s concern is a legitimate one: that debating the issue would only create another discussion that problematizes and corners China within the already highly tense dynamics between major world powers.
