October 21, 2024
JAKARTA – The Middle Eastern country’s name was first mentioned by People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani, who presided over Sunday’s plenary session on the presidential inauguration at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta on Sunday.
In one of his speeches during the session, Muzani listed out several achievements made by the administration of former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and vice president Ma’ruf Amin, including maintaining Indonesia’s economic growth amid the complicated international situation.
The MPR speaker also said that Indonesia has maintained its stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and opposing Israel’s occupation and oppression.
His statement was met by a standing ovation from most of the attendants including Prabowo, Jokowi, Gibran and Ma’ruf in the plenary session room. Some lawmakers also chanted “Free Palestine!” amid the clapping.
Muzani then continued his speech, reminding Prabowo that Indonesia had a moral responsibility to support the Palestinian cause through active diplomacy to push the international community toward supporting the rights of people from the war-torn country.
“President Prabowo Subianto, we hope that you can continue giving support for Palestine and make it our foreign affairs policy,” said Muzani of Prabowo’s own Gerindra Party, followed by more applause from the session attendants.
Read also: We must dare to ‘correct ourselves’, Prabowo says in inaugural address
Palestine resurfaced in Prabowo’s inaugural speech during the MPR session.
This was not the first time that Prabowo talked about Palestine in a speech. During the third election debate in January, Prabowo asserted the importance of strong military power so a nation would not be oppressed by others “as has happened in Gaza”.
But on Sunday, Prabowo, now a President, reasserted Indonesia’s position to uphold the anti-colonial and anti-apartheid principles.
“We have a principle that we have to be in solidarity and defend people oppressed around the world. Therefore, we’re supporting the Palestinian cause of freedom,” the newly sworn-in President said.
He continued by mentioning efforts by Jokowi’s administration to send humanitarian aid packages through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, while expressing readiness for Indonesia to dispatch more aid to the region.
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chair Anwar Iskandar made the last mention of Palestine during his prayer at the end of the session. He prayed to God to help Prabowo in doing his presidential work, including on pushing for solidarity efforts on the Palestinians.
Indonesia has been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, especially amid the Israeli military’s invasion to avenge an offensive committed by the Hamas militant group on Oct. 7 of last year.
Jokowi’s foreign minister Retno LP Marsudi was among the vocal supporters pushing for the end of violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West bank. She declared Indonesia’s commitment to call for a permanent ceasefire and global recognition of Palestinian statehood and establish official diplomatic ties with Israel.
More than 42,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war broke out between Israel and Palestinian militants after Hamas’ Oct. 7 offensive, according to an estimate from Gazan health authorities.