SBY Leads Chorus of Dismay Over Egypt

Indonesian leaders startled by killings in Egypt as protests over removal of President Morsi continue

By Teddy Kurniawan & Fitri on 8:44 am July 30, 2013.
Category Featured, International, News, World
Tags: Egypt, Egypt protests, Egypt violence, Mohammed Morsi


In the first months after Egypt’s long-serving dictator was toppled in 2011, many in Indonesia and abroad saw parallels between the two country’s experiences, and argued that the Middle Eastern nation could learn from its Southeast Asian ally.

But with Egypt now onto its third president since the ousting of Hosni Mubarak and with violence flaring, it is evident that the country has deviated sharply from Indonesia’s experience.

On Monday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bought into the discussion, prompted by reports that up to 65 civilian supporters of recently ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi were shot dead by Egypt’s security forces in recent days.

“In my opinion, if the military decides to take steps, as is happening in Egypt, by deposing a leader who has been elected through a democratic process, that is another problem,” he said, referring to the toppling of Morsi, at the opening of a limited Cabinet meeting at his office to discuss the 2014 state budget.

“We do not have a recipe, neither are we advising Egypt on what to do. We are not in the position to do so, and that would not be right,” he added.

Yudhoyono noted clashes between Indonesia’s military and civilians during 1998 riots, in which pro-reform groups across the archipelago clashed with military authorities — which at the time dominated the country’s politics — to remove Suharto from office.

A report released in May by the May 1998 Joint Fact Finding Team showed at least 1,000 people died during the May 13-15 riots in 1998, when at least 85 women were confirmed as victims to sexual violence.

Yudhoyono pointed to the inclusiveness of Indonesia’s post-New Order society as key to its relative peace.

“Although [it was] students and the reform movements [who participated] in the political scene at the time … in principle we had called on everyone, we left no one out, and we did not single out anyone from our unity as a nation during such hard times, in tackling the situation,” the president said.

“That kind of full support toward the reform and democratization movements made them part of the reformation itself.

“The lesson to be learned is that upon facing a great change, we have to think of reconciliation and involve everyone. If everyone was involved in the reformation process, the situation will be much more stable.”

The president said he hoped that both sides of the conflict in Egypt would refrain from further violence. The latest violence, the worst since Morsi was ousted as president early this month, prompted “deep concern” from US Secretary of State John Kerry and calls by Indonesian officials for an end to the violence.

Call for action

Budiyanto, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees defense and foreign affairs, said the killing of civilians by the military was “the darkest event in the history of democracy.”

“How is it that civilians who are conducting a peaceful protest can be indiscriminately shot? This has to be stopped,” Budiyanto said.

He added that Egypt’s military had gone too far by conducting a coup against Morsi’s legal, democratically elected government, as well as by massacring its own people acting democratically.

Budiyanto also condemned the military’s suppress ion of media outlets trying to report from Egypt.

The Indonesian lawmaker said these things showed that Egypt’s military government was violent and did not honor the values of humanity and democracy.

“This is the worst democratic crime in history,” he said.

Budiyanto called on the global Islamic community, through the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to try to stop the manslaughter in Egypt.

He said Indonesia’s status as an influential Islam-majority democratic country meant it was well-placed to respond to the violence in Egypt.

“Indonesia can take part in preventing the situation in Egypt from getting worse. We hope that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono moves to immediately take strategic steps to stop the crime against humanity in Egypt,” he said.

Historical links

People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker Lukman Hakim Saifuddin also expressed hopes that Indonesia mediates the clashes in Egypt, because of Indonesia’s ties with the country.

Egypt was the first country to acknowledge Indonesia’s sovereignty when it announced independence on Aug. 17, 1945.

As such, Lukman said Indonesia should help Egypt resolve its disagreements through peaceful discussions.

“We have a great responsibility to maintain peace in Egypt as a country with a very long history of civilization and culture, which has greatly contributed to today’s civilization,” Lukman said in Jakarta on Monday.

Meanwhile, Commission I chief Mahfudz Siddiq said the Indonesian government’s response was indecisive, especially given Morsi and other members of the Egyptian parliament have previously expressed admiration for Indonesia’s democracy.

Mahfudz said the leaders have also expressed interest in learning from Indonesia’s democratic government.

“Indonesia should have reacted strongly toward the unconstitutional coup there,” Mahfudz said on Monday, adding that the government of Indonesia should be pushing the international community to return the democratically elected leadership in Egypt.

Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, ruled for a year before being toppled by a coalition of military and civilian figures upset at the slow pace of reform. Western nations appeared unfussed at his removal given the breadth of opposition.

Indonesians in Egypt

In regard to Indonesians living in Egypt, Yudhoyono said they were not in danger. “Thousands of our students are in good condition. My instruction is not to involve yourself in any conflict, stay away from dangerous places and maintain communication,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged citizens in Egypt to remain in contact with the embassy after Saturday’s violent protests.

“We urge Indonesians to avoid crowded places and not to get involved in Egypt’s domestic issues,” Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a statement on Sunday. “We have instructed the Indonesian Embassy to continue monitoring Egypt’s situation, including [making] preparations in anticipation of a worse case scenario.”

Marty urged both sides to end the bloodshed. “All parties need to hold back and … reach a compromise,” Marty said. “[They need to] avoid violence, respect human rights and use peaceful, constitutional ways [to address conflict].”

He pushed for dialogue between the two sides. “Indonesia is urging international society, including the United Nations, to support a reconciliation process for a constitutional solution based on Egyptians’ wishes.”