Jakarta
When Indonesia won a seat on the on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2020-2022 term in October last year, many called it a diplomatic achievement — which is true because it took a Herculean effort to secure the coveted membership. As one of the 47 members of the Geneva-based council, Indonesia can advance its bid for human rights promotion anywhere in the world, in particular the Palestinian cause and the plight of minority Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. The campaign will undoubtedly increase Indonesia’s standing as a prominent human rights defender. It was akin to a slap in Indonesia’s face, therefore, when the Southeast Asian branch of the New York-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a statement expressing concerns about the escalating conflict in Papua. The statement came on Monday, just before the West P...