Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia regrets Indonesia's decision to join the Board of Peace initiated by United States President Donald Trump.
Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid believes this move to be counterproductive to Indonesia's position as chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
"How can Indonesia effectively lead the Human Rights Council if it blindly follows Trump who is attacking the UN international system? It's sad", said Hamid in a written statement on January Monday 27.
Hamid emphasised that, "The Board of Peace is part of Trump's increasing attacks on the UN, international justice institutions and universal norms".
According to Hamid, this decision reaffirms Indonesia's double standards and is a blow to decades of efforts to strengthen the global system. "Instead of improving it, Indonesia is actually participating in destroying the system of universal values and equality that was so hard to build after World War II", he said.
Amnesty is urging the Indonesian government to publicly explain the reasons behind the decision to join the board which is seen as damaging to the international legal system. The human rights organisation is also asking the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I to immediately summon the Foreign Affairs Minister to ask for an explanation.
"Commission I is obliged to ensure that foreign policy is in line with the Constitution which upholds world peace through international law and universal principles of human rights", said Hamid.
Criticism was also directed at the context of peace in Gaza. Hamid stated that Indonesia must ensure that all efforts in the name of peace in Palestine involve the Palestinian people.
"In the midst of systematic restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza that are leading to genocide, Indonesia's attitude towards joining America without the involvement of the Palestinian people reflects double standards", he said.
Hamid emphasised that, "Peace that is built by excluding victims is not true peace. This kind of attitude has the potential to contribute to strengthening and perpetuating the most serious crimes against humanity".
President Prabowo Subianto announced Indonesia's decision to join the Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday January 22. The President said the decision was a form of Indonesia's active role in the peace process in Gaza as part of its humanitarian commitment.
This move is considered ironic considering the actual situation in Gaza. More than two months after the ceasefire, and despite binding orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and UN General Assembly resolutions, humanitarian aid access to Gaza remains very limited.
Amnesty says these conditions to show that Israeli authorities are deliberately imposing living conditions designed to cause the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza, an act prohibited under the Genocide Convention. (tan/jpnn)
- The Amnesty International Indonesia statement in Bahasa Indonesia can be read here: https://www.amnesty.id/kabar-terbaru/siaran-pers/miris-indonesia-membebek-pada-board-of-peace-trump/01/2026/
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Langkah Prabowo Bawa Indonesia Membebek ke Trump dengan Gabung Board of Peace Dikecam".]
