Jakarta – Indonesia has criticized the United Nations' Security Council (UNSC) for its failure to take a clear stand against the United States' military campaign in Iraq.
In his speech during the open debate at the Security Council on Wednesday, senior diplomat Slamet Hidayat called on the highest organ of the UN to address the issue that has preoccupied the world this past week.
"The Security Council must, and must be seen, to be seized of an issue which is in actual fact preoccupying all of us, governments and peoples alike," said Slamet, charge d'affaires of the Indonesian Mission to the United Nations in New York.
"Its silence in calling for the immediate cessation of the aggression is deafening, indeed," according to the text of his speech made available by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
The meeting, the first since the US along with other allied forces began the military intervention in Iraq last Thursday, was convened at the request of the Arab League and the Non-Aligned Movement.
On the opening day, 46 of over 80 countries proposing the emergency meeting delivered their views. The session on Thursday (Friday morning Jakarta time) will hear the rest.
Much like most of the world, the Indonesian government and people have been trying to step up pressure on the US and its allies to stop the war in the name of humanity.
Indonesia has strongly deplored the US military action in Iraq, calling it an act of aggression.
Slamet said the US invasion, without the specific approval from the Security Council, is undermining the multilateralism principle upon which the United Nations was built.
"We should not, and cannot, belittle what is presently at stake," he said. "The fate of the people of Iraq – certainly. The future of the immediate regions and beyond – politically, strategically and economically – most definitely.
"Nor can we be oblivious to the potential environment impact of the war. Ultimately, however, it is the very foundation of the United Nations system, its inherent principle of multilateralism, that is being tested," he said, adding: "Unilateralism from whatever source must be held in check."
Slamet urged the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security. "The Council must unite and join the clarion calls in many councils of nations and voiced by peoples the world over: End the war," he said.
Similar criticism was also launched by noted Indonesianist Daniel Lev, who blamed the Iraq war on the UN's incompetence.
"Most parts of the UN are very weak. As the most authoritative institution, it has no power to settle the case," he told reporters after a discussion on Iraq held by 68H news radio.
"If the attack is a must, then it is the UN that has to send its troops [to disarm Iraq] instead of the US [and its allies]," he said.
He suggested that the UN reform itself in order not to be influenced by a single superpower country and move its headquarters from New York to a more neutral country, such as Switzerland.
Middle East expert Hamid Bassyai shared Lev's view, saying that the UN would work more independently if it was headquartered in a neutral place.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda warned of a possible failure of the UNSC to issue a resolution to end war as the US and Britain as two permanent members of the council would likely to veto such a resolution.
However, he insisted that Indonesia would continue the effort through the UN General Assembly under resolution 337 which has been entitled Uniting for Peace.
"On the General Assembly we will have a single vote and it only takes around 96 member countries out of the UN's 191 members to take action against the war," Hassan said.