JAKARTA: Indonesia’s participation in the United States-led Board of Peace (BoP) is facing growing domestic opposition, with a recent national survey showing most Indonesians disapprove of joining US President Donald Trump’s initiative and deploying troops amid the escalating US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
The survey, conducted jointly by three prominent pollsters, Indikator Politik Indonesia (IPI), Lembaga Survei Indonesia and Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting, interviewed 1,066 mobile phone users between March 12 and 31 and has a six per cent margin of error.
Findings released on Thursday (April 2) show that 50.9 per cent of respondents either “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed” with President Prabowo Subianto’s decision in January to join the BoP, a so-called “international peacekeeping” body that includes Israel and is expected to oversee post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction in Gaza.
Only 26.1 per cent of respondents expressed support for Indonesia’s participation, while 17.2 per cent were indifferent and 5.7 per cent did not answer.
Public resistance was also evident toward plans to deploy 8,000 Indonesian troops to Gaza under an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) linked to the BoP, with 44.9 per cent opposing the plan, compared to 33.8 per cent in favour, 16.2 per cent indifferent and 5.1 per cent declining to respond.
Calls for Indonesia to withdraw from the Trump-led initiative have persisted since Jakarta joined, driven by concerns over US dominance and the board’s credibility.
Opposition has intensified following joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February that killed thousands, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Amid the escalating regional conflict, Indonesia has suspended discussions on its participation in the BoP.
Foreign Minister Sugiono said the move reflected “unpeaceful” developments in the Middle East, which have shifted attention away from the board’s stated goal of Gaza reconstruction.
Stronger stance needed
The survey also found overwhelming public opposition to the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, with 83.1 per cent of respondents rejecting the attacks regardless of justification.
Only 4.9 per cent expressed support, while 7.4 per cent were indifferent and 4.5 per cent did not respond.
IPI executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi said the findings reflected the “very low legitimacy” of the attacks among Indonesians and warned that Prabowo’s failure to take a clear stance against attacks on Iran could carry “major electoral consequences”, especially if the conflict triggers economic fallout domestically.
“The stakes are even higher if the Middle East conflict affects our economy, as already seen in disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. Public dissatisfaction toward the government could multiply,” he said.
Indonesia’s initial response to the conflict, limited to expressing “deep regret” over failed US-Iran negotiations and issuing a delayed condolence following Khamenei’s death, has drawn criticism for lacking a clear condemnation of the US and Israel.
Exit plan
Calls for an exit strategy have intensified recently following the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers, namely Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, 33; Muhammad Nur Ichwan, 25; and Farizal Rhomadhon, 27, in separate incidents while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier this week.
The incidents marked the most serious involving Indonesian personnel since the regional conflict spilled over into Lebanon.
Among those renewing calls for withdrawal is the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which argues that continued Israeli attacks, which have been allowed without meaningful restraint by the US, reflect a lack of genuine commitment to peace.
“This further strengthens our view that the BoP, under the leadership of Donald Trump, provides no real benefit and instead brings increasing harm,” said Sudarnoto Abdul Halim, head of MUI’s foreign relations and international cooperation division.
“Therefore, it is crucial for President Prabowo to firmly commit to withdrawing Indonesia from the BoP,” he added. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
