CSIS Criticizes Prabowo`s Statement Belittling Indonesia
Translator
Ricky Mohammad Nugraha
Editor
Petir Garda Bhwana
Selasa, 2 April 2019 10:51 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) foreign politics observer Shafiah Muhabit said Prabowo Subianto’s statement claiming Indonesia is disrespected by the ASEAN community is an unfair assessment.
“It’s actually an unfair conclusion. ASEAN was barely discussed in the debate when Rakhine State was mentioned. In the context of Myanmar, there is a limitation for Indonesia if the solution is through ASEAN,” said Shafiah on Monday.
Shafiah also denied the presumption that Indonesia does not bear strong diplomatic ability in ASEAN and argues that Indonesia has led through several initiations such as the IUU Fishing and counterterrorism.
The presidential candidate expressed it during the fourth presidential debate on Saturday along with claiming Indonesia is being picked upon by international journalists and predicated as a “country with many potential,” as Prabowo said.
Prabowo also said that Indonesia is seen as a country with plentiful debts, weak currency, and still depends on food imports. Despite agreeing that Indonesia has played the role as an international conflict mediator, he asserts that it can be even stronger through sufficient defense and military capabilities.
