Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ramallah (Palestine) and its Consequences

Author: Arya Sandhiyudha
(Penyeksama International Politics, Doctoral Candidate, Fatih Univ. Turkey)

RI President Jokowi, March 7, 2016 giving the Opening Speech OIC Extraordinary Summit on Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif. During the meeting President said that Indonesia has appointed Mrs. Maha Abou Susheh as Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Palestine, as well as in the near future will inaugurate the Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Ramallah, Palestine.

It is a new history, and continuation of the process that has lasted long enough. At least a continuation of the initiation of the Foreign Minister at the sidelines of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), December 10, 2010, and conveyed to the Palestinian Foreign Minister H.E. Riyadh Maliki idea of ​​improving relations between Indonesia and Palestine through the establishment of a Palestinian foothold in the form of a diplomatic mission in Ramallah. The idea is actually not a new thing for the country that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Morocco and Tunisia. However, the problem is, when the new Indonesia now propose after the events of the Intifada in 1983, the situation has some consequences that need to be considered jelly.

That is, Indonesia needs to pay attention fully to be opening diplomatic missions or consular Indonesia in Palestine would not prejudice the position polugri (foreign policy) RI.

In this case, in fact, a foreign representative to Palestine can be divided into three forms of representation, depending on the level of recognition of the sending state for the Palestinians:

FIRST, State and which has REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE Representative based in Palestine, now amount to a total of 35 countries and one European Union Representative.

South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Netherlands, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Malta, Morocco, Egypt, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Russia, Tunisia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Jordan.

Of these countries, two (2) countries including Morocco and Tunisia, has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

However, in response to the opening of a representative office of the Moroccan and Tunisian intifada 1983- -pasca dynamics Israeli side increasing tightening of requirements to collect reciprocity and appoint Liaison Officer (LO) to be placed in Morocco and Tunisia. Finally, Israel has offices in both countries, although Israel in the latest political developments, has attracted its LO in both countries.

Thus, the presence of reciprocity in the form of Israel approval prerequisite for the establishment of representative offices RI in Ramallah today need to be considered.

Second, the country with the Embassy (Embassy) in countries surrounding the Palestinians an additional accreditation. There are 13 countries namely: Bangladesh (Amman), Dominica (Cairo), the Philippines (Amman), North Korea (Cairo), Cuba (Cairo), Malawi (Cairo), Mali (Cairo), Pakistan (Amman), New Zealand (Ankara ), United Arab Emirates (Amman), Vietnam (Cairo), Zambia (Cairo), and Indonesia has been also included in the 13 countries through the Indonesian Embassy in Amman.

Third, countries that opened the Consulate General or Consulate in Jerusalem under their embassy in Tel Aviv. Consul General Consulate does not function as a diplomatic mission to Palestine and not submit credentials to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). However, the scope of work included the Consul General and the Consulate made contacts with the PNA and PLO. Countries that have or Consulate Consul General in Jerusalem, as many as 10 countries, namely the US, Belgium, England, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, Vatican City, Greece, and Turkey.

In that regard, during the hearing (RDP) with the House of Representatives Commission I on January 21, 2011 (SBY era red), the Foreign Minister urged to consider carefully the consequences related to the Government's plan to open a representative office in the Palestinian RI. With a variety of reasons not to prejudice the position and principles Polugri RI, finally, the President chose the form of honorary consul representative in Ramallah.

Step Indonesia is actually interesting, because in fact up to now there is no any official diplomatic representatives of foreign countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Indonesia's case.

On 21 April 2015, on the sidelines of the 60th anniversary of KAA, in a bilateral meeting between the President with Palestinian Prime Minister, Dr. Rami Hamdallah, the Palestinian prime minister said that it approved the Indonesian initiative to open the Honorary Consul in Palestine.

Then, on May 27, 2015, on the sidelines of the OIC to attend KTM-42 in Kuwait, Minister of Foreign Affairs has implemented a bilateral meeting with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr. Riyad Malki in Bayan Palace, Kuwait. During the meeting, the key points made by the Foreign Minister is a follow-up appointment / removal and opening of the Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Ramallah.

Things become potential controversy ahead and needs to be studied in-depth is, if the appointment of Honorary Consul into gradual steps before the opening of the representative office of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia at the level of the full consequence being the prerequisite approval of the Israeli government, the principle of reciprocity, to delivery LO Israel to Indonesia. By contrast, if the appointment of Honorary Consul focuses on its main ideals of liberating Palestine.

In its development, the Palestinian Foreign Minister said that all processes, including the inauguration of the office by GoI officials still have to go through the Israeli government, but administered by the Palestinian Authority, without the need for the Government of Indonesia to deal with the Israeli government.

Embassy in Amman based on interviews with the three candidates for the Honorary Consul and other considerations, it was decided by the Government of Indonesia: Ny. Maha Abu Shusheh as candidates for RI Honorary Consul based in Ramallah (Palestine). In this regard, the Government of Indonesia has issued approval of the appointment of Mrs. Maha Abu Shusheh as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia through Presidential Decree No. Ramallah 172 / M 2015 dated December 21, 2015 on the appointment of Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ramallah, Palestine. In addition, a Letter of Commission appointment Ny. Maha Abu Shusheh also been signed by the President dated December 23, 2015.

All parties should be grateful to this development, while continuing to take care of the sensitivity of the ideals of constitutional order where the Indonesian Honorary Consulate in Ramallah really can be a foothold Indonesia in Palestine, as well as provide concrete support RI on Palestinian freedom struggle.

In addition, the presence of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Ramallah can promote economic and trade relations, education, people-to-people contacts and tourism between the two countries.

Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ramallah will also need to be guarded in order to function optimally to help citizens who are having problems in the region, providing input on economic cooperation in coordination with Indonesian Representative other, and despite being in Ramallah demanded impartiality remains facilitate humanitarian mission Indonesia the flowing into Palestine, especially Gaza is extremely isolated. []

Source: http://www.renovasinegeri.com/konsulat-kehormatan-ri-di-ramallah/