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Indonesia urges citizens to exercise caution during transition of power in Syria
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A person waves a Syrian opposition flag on Dec. 8, 2024, as people celebrate at the Masnaa Border Crossing between Lebanon and Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they had ousted President Bashar al-Assad. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
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ndonesia said it was “deeply concerned” about the humanitarian impact of the recent developments in Syria that saw decades-long president Bashar al-Assad ousted, calling for a peaceful transition of power and further urging its citizens to exercise caution.
Jakarta will continue to closely monitor the situation, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday, adding that it has taken all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of over a thousand Indonesian citizens residing in the Middle Eastern country.
“The crisis in Syria can only be resolved through an inclusive, democratic and peaceful transition that prioritizes the interests and safety of the Syrian people while safeguarding Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” the statement said.
“Indonesia calls on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international law, particularly international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” it added.
In a sudden political shift in Syria, insurgent rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) successfully thwarted the 24-year presidency of Bashar al-Asshad within 11 days of taking control of the country’s key cities, including the capital Damascus.
Read also: How Syria rebels' stars aligned for Assad's ouster
Assad’s presidency, widely believed to be endorsed by Russia and Iran, was marked with frequent crackdowns on anti-government protests, and some 13 years ago the HTS was targeted and turned dormant.
