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Indonesia opts out of Saudi-led military coalition
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo refrained from openly rejecting the idea of joining the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition of 34 countries to fight terrorism, but his chief security czar announced the government’s decision to distance itself from the anti-terrorist coalition.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Indonesia had no intention of joining the military alliance, as the government was prioritising the use of soft power in its war on terror.
“The stance of Indonesia’s government is that we want to handle the IS with a soft approach, including by promoting Islam as gracious and full of compassion, not a brutal religion like what the IS is portraying,” the retired four-star general said after accompanying the president in his meeting with Indonesian Military (TNI) generals on Dec 16.
The president said that the government did not want to follow other countries that used military force to combat radicalism and preferred using a soft approach as it was more effective.
“There are actually other things that we can do. Whether it is a religious approach or cultural approach, we need to do it consistently, firmly and continuously so that we can face any threat,” Jokowi said in his speech during a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the president also told the military at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Java, not to rule out deradicalisation measures while implementing a hard approach, saying that seeking breakthroughs in introducing better soft-approach measures was also needed.
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen Badrodin Haiti said that he had proposed a number of deradicalisation steps in the cabinet meeting. “That includes [deradicalisation measures] for former terror convicts and their supporters. We must also protect our people by imposing programmes to counter radicalism [using soft-approach measures],” Badrodin said.
“It is important to prevent people who have yet to be influenced by radicalism by raising their awareness about radical ideologies,” Badrodin added.
The new Islamic alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, was expected to share information and train, equip and provide forces if necessary for the fight against the militant Islamic State (IS) group militants, Reuters reported recently.
The news agency also reported that a statement by Saudi state news agency SPA said the new coalition would have a joint operations centre based in Riyadh to “coordinate and support military operations”. The countries listed as joining the new coalition are Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and several African nations.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir said that Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister had approached Jakarta twice in the past few days to ask it to join a “centre to coordinate against extremism and terrorism”.
However, “what Saudi Arabia has announced is a military alliance, [...] It is thus important for Indonesia to first receive details before deciding to support it,” he said.
Western nations welcomed Saudi Arabia’s new Islamic coalition against terrorism, but confusion over its role, even among its own members, may undermine its ambitions of tackling militancy and deflecting international criticism of Riyadh.—The Jakarta Post
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2015
Comments (68) Closed
Wise decision. Saudis should clean up their own mess.
Good job Indonesia (largest Muslim population in the world) for having the guts to stand against the "autocratic " KSA!!. But I disagree with your policies in Aceh Province!.
A dignified move by Indonesia.
Pakistan should follow suit having learned a lesson from their past serious mistakes. Why the government of Saudi Arabia in the first place included name of Pakistan and other countries without even demonstrating a basic courtesy for prior approval.
Sovereign states never takes dictation from anyone, Our leaders need to learn a lesson or two from Indonasia and Malasia
Pakistan should also opt out of the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition, sooner the better.
Nations with dignity are never taken for granted. To our Leader dignity is a stranger.
hope pakistan showed such nerve
Wise decision Indoneisa, I wish our corrupt government will learn how to make smart decision like this.
Wow !! Indonesia, impressed with you. You have proved to the world that you have a mind of your own and that Petro Dollars can't buy you. Keep it up and let it be a lesson to other countries of the "alliance"
It is also in Pak interest to follow Indonesia in this matter. But our PM was saved by Saudi monarch and now Pak nation has to repay for that favor.
Appreciations to show spine by politely refusing to join Saudi led Islamic coalation by tge Indonesian leadership...It is not easy to say NO to a bigger & stronger who is selective in his decisions... Such as VISA requirements for muslims belong to Islamis countries (Hajj pilgrims), no citizenship policy from brotherly nations..etc... Well done Islamic republic of Indonesia!
Indonesia is an independent country! Our politicans have made Pakistan dependent on other countries for support, oil, aid, etc...
“ It is thus important for Indonesia to first receive details before deciding to support it,” he said". Ok fine...but We first offer blind / unconditional support to any Saudi venture and later seek details. Masses have not been informed about the outcome, if any, of our request to Saudi "brothers" to provide details. Who needs to learn from the other in these decisions ...Pakistan or Indonesia ?
so now would we hear of deported Indonesians also?
Indonesian policies and actions are way different and stretegic towards terror than ours.
@Santosh Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at others
Muslim countries should not support the sheikdoms of the gulf countries what is their contribution to the welfare of human beings.
A wise strategy to tackle radicalism.Emphasis should be on soft approach.Trigger happy Western nations have created radicalism
@AH oil is business..... Many countries import and Pakistan is not as heavily dependent on aid anymore. It's funny ppl want Pakistan to b strong and all but no one wants to pay taxes. Where will the money come from ? Obviously no one will spend money from their own pocket. It makes no sense when people make these comments.
Let us hope this alliance will address 3 key security questions:
Pakistan can provide a nuclear umbrella and have deployments of air and strategic forces and assets.
When the largest Muslim nation takes a stand, it means something.
@Justice ..... Indonesia cleaned up 95% of its corruption 15 years ago. Their army and police are to be trusted. Their police work closely with the FBI, the Australians and Interpol. It makes an ethical difference when a country has a large Chinese minority. Indonesia is no longer run by corrupt elite Indonesian families. President Joko Widodo can't be bribed. He won't take Saudi money to change his mind.
@AH ..... Indonesia is corruption free.
@Farhan ... Indonesian police have arrested almost every terrorist in the country, and their terrorists don't bomb their own people.
@james .... If Pakistan had a plastics and polymer chemical industry it would be a big importer of crude oil. The plastic water bottles people drink from are just one product made from crude oil. Plastics manufacture made Taiwan a rich country.
You know why? Indonesia is an independent nation.
Indonesia is a country is also a friendly brotherly islamic country, but with spine and guts ! looks like their leaders dosent have any business interest !
Whatever the reason may be but they have got the guts to say "no". Unfortunately, for one reason or the other we played part in so many things that it's becoming impossible for us to stay away from this mess.
A model for us! We should be much more like Indonesia, and much less like Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan should demand Indonesia not to leave the coalition led by Saudi general or face repercussions including cutting down of bilateral ties with Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Bravo!
what a joke, why Saudi request to Indonesia. they don't have any Military power. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has joined the collation.
Indonesia, though happen to be the largest Muslim populated country in the world, are moderate in their belief, have modern thinking and follow the policy of" live and let live", by treating the minorities with dignity.
Appreciated
Indonesia (along with perhaps Philippines) are perhaps the two most amazing countries in the world. With thousands of far flung islands, and a lot of them uninhabited, I keep wondering how on earth do they continue to protect their territory ! Also, both these nations are essentially poor. If you see the two countries maps, its mind boggling to imagine how they are administered.
Hats off to Indonesia for saying an emphatic 'no' to the Saudis and we can do the same
Now the time is ripe to educate the masses that we are Pakistanis and not Arabs. We should be loyal to our soil and to our people and not to foreigners.
Pakistan should follow the suit and announce its decision in clear terms. It begs a question why Saudi Arabia in the first place made such an announcement without taking into confidence all the countries.
Very wise decision, they should also know that somebody can say no to them.
Its a Wise and appropriate decision by a Sovereign Nation and not only it must be applauded by all sane people but also country like Pakistan , Must follow the suit too and decline the same way . The nation had paid and have still been paying a very heavy price with over 50000+ nationals butchered so far in a so called War on terror imported on to the nation by mindless religious slogans Of Jehad . Saudi/Emirates/GCC combined , have not even paid 0.001% yet in their One years so called War or restore hope in Yemen , Le them do this fighting of ISIS/ISIL/daiesh , themselves . Bravo Indonesia to have shown Guts to Say NO .
What's Pakistan's decision ????
Good decision, this coalition will be another failure in demolishing DAESH, crush the ideology first.
Excellent move by Indonesia. Pakistani are only fools who cannot make wise decisions like this. Just stay out of Middle East mess specially Saudi mess.
It was immature on the part of KSA to declare a 'strategic' allaiance without consultatios with prospective members. And it was even more so for a country to declare to join such an endeavour. The menace of ISIS is too serious an affair to be tackled with such childish moves.
A good decision. Pakistan must follow the same path. Saudis and USA must clean up their own mess. Our brave boys are for the safeguard of Pakistan alone. They are definitely not mercenaries.
Pakistan should be out of this group but do it very diplomaticly . We have many millions Pakistanis are working in SA and the UAE.
@Khwarezmi you're living in cuckoo land if you think the alliance is going to go after US and Israeli interests. it's simply to end militancy that's threatening the gulf sheikh's. all the western leaders want to return to stability even if it means another 100 years of dictators in middle east
We here in Pakistan condemn Indonesia's move. To all Pakistanis: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We support Saudi Arabia and each Pakistani must pray for Peace.
What was wrong in having Islamic military alliance? We as Ummah, need to have Islamic alliance. Ppl Living in Pakistan needs to understand that Strong Unity amongst the Muslim country is need of an hour to cope with terrorist element as well as to cope with Western propoganda. I know being in Saudi Arabia there is huge propoganda going against Saudi Arab for no reasons, there is huge pakistani community which are getting good fruits of their hard work and these Saudis despite being passing thru difficult economical time and despite Saudis r now start working hard of there own does not have any hatred against us.
Very nice decision...Pakistan must adopt the same stance...!!
Indonesia did the right thing by refusing to join this dumb Arab alliance.
Indonesia is part of G20, an emerging economy and they have a proud heritage, which is reflected in the president's non Arabic name Joko Widodo.
They have not discarded their indigenous identity, culture and heritage despite adopting Islam as their religion but rejecting Arabization.
Saudi Government is fast downhill on its course of Oil Luxuries. It must understand that, it would soon have no money even to meet its survival needs, not to talk of wars in foreign lands with foreign troops.
Very sensible decision. Malaysia to follow. Unfortunately Pakistan cannot do that.
It is a sensible idea by that country.
Can we do the same? Please?
@Santosh Menon ...and the whole world disagrees with your policies and ocvupation in IOK.
Pakistan should do the same
Hats off to you Indonesia for taking this decision. Who wants to follow KSA.
Intelligent decision, we should follow.
No country can remain isolated or insulated from the happenings in Middle East Asia. One who does not learn from the past mistakes is condemned to repeat it. Good luck Pakistan...
@P DATTA Others are very much willing to assist if they, Middle Eastern power, is clear-headed about where they want to go and how they want to resolve this mess in Middle east.
Indonesia so far has been isolated from the effects of IS.Till then they have the option to stay away.
Pakistan has already indirectly snubbed the coalition by announcing that it supports Hafez al Assad in Syria and also that it will only participate selectively in missions of its choice. Pakistan has already refused participation in the coalition against Hourhid in Yemen. Directly insulting / refusing Saudi achieves noting and is counter-productive. Lots of comments here about how Pakistan should show mire back-bone etc. but I think Pakistan is already doing that.
Good decision !
We have great respect for Saudis and Saudi Arabia but no respect for corrupt and spoiled Saudi Kings.
Saudia is nowdays being led by immature lads.
will they be the hope for us
uhhh. Pakistan runs on Saudi and American aid. Really hard to say no when you need the money.