January 27, 2026 | 04:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia has expressed concern over Indonesia "surrendering" to United States President Donald Trump regarding its participation in the Board of Peace. The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, stated that the Board of Peace is part of Trump's escalating attacks on the United Nations.
According to Usman, Trump's peace claims have actually assaulted international law and undermined the guarantee of universal recognition of human rights. He believes that Indonesia's involvement in Trump's Board of Peace is a blow to decades of effort to strengthen the global system through compliance with universal values and equality among UN member states.
He also viewed the move as a setback to legitimate efforts aimed at addressing the limitations and disparities within the current system. "Instead of improving it, Indonesia is participating in the destruction of the system of universal values and equality that has been painstakingly built since World War II," Usman said in an official statement on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
According to Usman, now is the time for international law to be upheld and not forsaken for ad hoc arrangements distorted by unilateral political and economic interests fueled by Trump's personal ambitions and arrogance. Usman questioned how Indonesia could effectively lead the United Nations Human Rights Council if it follows Trump, who is currently attacking the UN international system.
Indonesia officially joined the Board of Peace established by the United States on Thursday, January 22, 2026. President Prabowo Subianto directly signed the Board of Peace charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland. He was among the representatives of 20 countries present at the launch of the Board of Peace.
Amnesty International emphasized that the Indonesian government needs to openly explain the reasons behind a decision considered to undermine the international legal system. The non-governmental organization requested that Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives immediately summon Foreign Minister Sugiono to demand an explanation regarding Indonesia's participation in the Board of Peace.
Commission I of the House of Representatives, Usman stressed, must ensure that foreign policy aligns with the constitution, which upholds world peace through international law and universal principles of human rights. "Indonesia must ensure that all efforts on behalf of peace in Palestine involve the Palestinian people because it concerns their future," said Usman.
Criticisms regarding Indonesia's participation in the Board of Peace were also voiced by former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal. Dino identified at least four warning signs related to the decision.
First, the positions of the participating countries are not equal. Second, President Trump seems to regard the Board of Peace as his "club," meaning decisions are at risk of being made based on ego rather than objective considerations.
Third, Dino highlighted the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Board of Peace. Meanwhile, Palestine, the victim of the wars launched by Israel, has no place on the Board of Peace.
The fourth warning sign highlighted by Dino is that the speeches delivered by the executive board members during the launch of the Board of Peace did not reflect empathy for the suffering experienced by the Palestinian people.
Read: Four Warning Signs Over Indonesia's Entry Into Trump's Board of Peace
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