House of Representatives Speaker, Bambang Soesatyo, urged reform in the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council (UNSC), saying the world body should play a more effective role in security and peace across the globe. 

Bambang Soesatyo, known by his acronym Bamsoet, made that statement at the second plenary of The 4th MIKTA Speakers' Consultation, discussing peace and security through strengthening the UN function, at the Istana Tampak Siring, Bali, on 16 September 2018. 

Bamsoet said that the UN’s bid to maintain international peace and security had not completely met the expectation of the international community, especially when the 193-nation organization’s attempted to maintain peace and security did not go with the interests of the permanent members of the UNSC.

“For example, in response to Palestine-Israel conflict, the UNSC failed to deal with the United States. As one of the permanent members of the UNSC, the US has used the veto for several times to prevent a draft resolution condemning  Israel’s use of force against Palestinian civilians,” Bamsoet said. 

Bamsoet critisized the situation and called for UN, especially the UNSC, reform, urging the world body to play a bigger role in fulfilling the expectation of international community.  

“The UNSC reforms should focus on  building a more democratic and representative UNSC. Regarding membership in the UNSC, for example, we are urging the body to pay attention to inter-regional and among developed and developing country representativeness, and world main constituency in the proposal for representativeness improvement of the UNSC,” he said. 

In terms of the veto right, the Speaker said that it was not easy to revoke the veto power of the five permanent members of the UNSC (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Even so, the existence of the veto right needed to be reviewed.

“Indonesia sees the veto right as an undemocratic practice and it does not represent the voices of the UN members. So, it would be appropiate to review the veto right,” Bamsoet said. 

Further he explained, as Indonesia was elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2019-2020 period, Indonesian House supported four priorities it would take during its term at the UNSC. 

“The main priority would be the continuation of Indonesia’s contribution to maintaining peace across the globe by strengthening peace ecosystem and global stability through promoting dialouge and resolving conflicts peacfully.” 

“The second priority would be establishing synergy among the regional organizations and the UN to maintain regional peace and stability. And the third would be promoting cooperation to combat terrorism, extremism, and radicalism. The fourth is synergizing efforts to build peace through sustainable development,” Bamsoet said.

Bamsoet hoped that the four priorities would be well implemented when Indonesia carried out its functions as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, given that they would contribute to the UN empowerment in maintaining international peace and security. 

“We would  like to invite all MIKTA parliaments to ensure that our governments participate and contribute to maintaining security and peace across the globe. Let us create a safe and peaceful world to all human beings,” Bamsoet said. 

The MIKTA is a partnership forum that brings together  Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia. Established in 2013, MIKTA aims to promote an effective global governance. Indonesia is now the chair of the MIKTA. 

Among the Indonesian high-profile figures attending the meeting were Vice Speaker Fahri Hamzah, Vice Chair of BKSAP Fadel Muhammad and Hazrul Azwar, Director General for Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard. 

Also attending the meeting were Moon Hee-sang, Lee Soo-hyuck and Ji Sang-wuk, Speaker and MPs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Deputy President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines, and Mexico's Ambassador to Indonesia, Armando Gonzalo Álvarez Reina. (Tim/mut)