Indeed, the nation has experienced various internal conflicts throughout its history, but we have persevered in resolving them and coming out stronger each time.

Indonesia’s experience in conflict resolution is proven, both domestically and internationally. Past experiences have involved the peacebuilding process in our neck of the woods, such as in Cambodia and the Philippines in the 1980s and 1990s. We have also initiated a variety of touch-and-go initiatives in other parts of the world, such as Afghanistan and to a much lesser extent, the Middle East.

During the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2004-2014, peacebuilding initiatives seemed to be concentrated domestically in regions such as Ambon, Poso and Aceh. During the Jokowi administration in 2014 to the present, Indonesia has not made any sustained efforts in its peacebuilding role.

Even so, Indonesia remains one of the most active contributors to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs) in the world, but this seems to be the country’s only sustained contribution to world peace of late.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto has shown indications that he will be playing a much more active foreign policy role than his predecessors, and that his foreign policy will be more diverse than President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s preoccupation with infrastructure development and foreign investment.

Given his background, Prabowo will lean more toward development of Indonesia’s defense capabilities. But on at least two occasions, he has indicated his desire for Indonesia to play a more active role in peacebuilding.