Defense Analysis

Indonesia's Foreign Policy Challenges in 2015 

By David Raja Marpaung

(@davidrajamarpaung@gmail.com)

Foreign policy that based on a thousand friends and zero enemy (thousand friends and without musush) over the last ten years, causing a lot of problems that are not resolved at the time of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Government ago seems reluctant to fight the problem of human rights violations experienced by Indonesian Workers (TKI) in some countries, especially Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, peg border problem, the problem of illegal fishing, people smuggling, and other seabagainya. Transition era under Jokowi make its own charm, especially the principle or platform that will be used in the cabinet on foreign policy, at least for the next five years. Is jokowi Government through the foreign minister will be soft and caving like its predecessor, or will act firmly and loudly, and defend any national interest, especially the protection of citizens.

The main challenges are still to be confronted Jokowi Government is the legal problems that plagued migrant workers in various countries. Currently more than 250 migrant workers facing the death penalty, pending execution, the largest in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Have not seen a step advocacy or operational standards conducted by the Indonesian government to protect its citizens abroad. The proposed budget for legal defense in the Ministry of Justice has been known to be very minimal. Even the protection of migrant workers does not seem to be one of the main priorities. Political budget will inevitably have to be done and change the whole paradigm in protecting workers.

The second problem is related to separatism in Papua. Like it or not recognized, this issue has been like a thorn in the flesh for the past two decades. Even many polkitisi in the UK, Australia, the Netherlands who commented or dare to take action on this issue, Expected Jokowi not promote political imagery that made its predecessor. Normalization of relations between Jakarta and Papua, as well as the implementation of special autonomy dihaapkan actually implemented.

The third problem that the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. It can be said the majority of Indonesian citizens are not ready to face free competition at the regional level in 2015, required a special attitude in this regard. However still needed a special nomenclature for protecting industrial and domestic labor in the face of competition MEA in 2015.

The fourth problem is related to the South China Sea dispute. During Indonesia's attitude towards this conflict as coy, even though the situation is not clear heats up in this area. Although it does not have territory in the South China Sea, but the conflict in this region will have an effect directly on Indonesia. There should be a grand design for the position of Indonesia in the South Tingkok marine areas that should the government officially declared.

The fifth problem is related to the execution policy of foreigners in Indonesia. One of the tensions that have occurred is between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of Brazil and Australia. Challenges to peace or free active diplomaiy gets serious challenges in this regards.