Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's membership in the Board of Peace (BoP) is intended to support the Palestinian cause, particularly the reconstruction of Gaza, the Foreign Ministry said, following criticism from Amnesty International Indonesia over the decision to join the body.

"Indonesia's approach has been consistent. We are pursuing these efforts as part of our commitment to supporting Palestine," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday.

Nabyl was responding to Amnesty International Indonesia's assessment that Indonesia's decision to join the Board of Peace was a mistake.

He said Indonesia intended to use all available channels to support Palestinians, including membership in the Board of Peace, with the hope that the body could help advance a two-state solution and Palestinian independence.

Nabyl added that Indonesia's participation was also intended to influence the board's agenda to ensure that Gaza's reconstruction and Palestinian independence reflect the aspirations of Palestinians and the international community.

Asked about the board's latest activities, Nabyl said Indonesia had suspended discussions on any matters within the organization. Indonesia was also monitoring developments in the Middle East before deciding on its next steps regarding the Board of Peace, he said.

Earlier, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said Indonesia still had an opportunity to withdraw from the Board of Peace.

Usman made the statement on Wednesday, October 21, following an event in Jakarta titled "Supporting Palestinian Resistance Amid Genocide," which featured Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

He argued that establishing the Board of Peace had been a mistake from the outset.

"We agree that the Board of Peace was a mistake from the beginning. It should never have happened," Usman said.

He said the board was now controlled by the United States, which he accused of fully supporting Israel and its military operations that have killed large numbers of Palestinian civilians, including in Gaza.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2122162/indonesia-defends-board-of-peace-membership-amid-amnesty-criticis