TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Human rights activists question the Indonesian government’s stance on the issue Uighur after rejecting a proposal to discuss China’s alleged human rights abuses against these and other ethnic Muslims in Xinjiang. The proposal was submitted by Western countries to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, October 6, 2022.

Rushan Abbas, a Uyghur activist who fled to the United States and spoke out on the issue of Uyghur ethnicity, said that all evidence from investigations by human rights institutions, leaked Chinese government documents, UN reports, show evidence of alleged violations of humanity by Beijing.

Read also Members of the UN Human Rights Council refuse to discuss the case of Uyghur Muslims, including Indonesia

With this capital, the Indonesian government should be able to see the truth without any pressure, including economic cooperation.

“We are supposed to protect the rights of the oppressed. Are we therefore always neutral or do we take the side of the genocidal regime? said Rushan during a chat at YLBHI Jakarta on Friday, October 14, 2022.

In the Human Rights Council’s vote on the Uyghurs, 17 countries supported, 19 rejected and 11 abstained, including Malaysia and Libya, as well as Ukraine. It is a victory for China as it seeks to avoid further scrutiny, particularly by the UN Human Rights Council.

The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom were among the countries that filed the petition. The rejection of this motion is the first time this has happened in 16 years. Besides Indonesia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan rejected the motion, citing the risk of alienating China.

Rushan, as a Uyghur with a sister victim of direct oppression in Xinjiang, said he was disappointed with Indonesia’s decision to refuse to discuss this humanitarian issue at the United Nations. He said the Indonesian government was a victim of disinformation from the Beijing regime.

Rights groups have previously accused Beijing of abuses against Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority of about 10 million people in the western region of Xinjiang, including forced labor in internment camps.

The United States views China as genocide. Beijing vehemently denies any violations. The Chinese government only recognizes that there are vocational training centers in Xinjiang and that it is necessary to fight against extremism.

Explanation from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry explained the reasons for Indonesia’s rejection of the proposal to discuss China’s alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang. Indonesian Foreign Ministry Director of Human Rights and Humanity Achsanul Habib said Indonesia does not want any politicization of the Human Rights Council linked to political rivalries.

Habib said the decision was made after communicating with various parties, including Western countries that submitted the proposal and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries that also sit on the Human Rights Council. United Nations man.

“The OIC agrees that the Human Rights Council, in accordance with its mandate, should not be used for political purposes. We hope that the Human Rights Council will not be picky and selective in choosing issues discussed,” Habib said during a virtual press conference on Friday. , October 7, 2022.

Habib understands that the Uyghur discussion took place amid geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. He stressed that Indonesia would cooperate with all parties.

Previously, based on a written statement received on Friday, October 7, 2022, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations, WTO and other international organizations in Geneva explained that the reason for the refusal Indonesia was that Indonesia considered the approach proposed by the country supporting the UN Human Rights Council would not result in meaningful progress.

Read also Malaysia condemned, abstained at UN Human Rights Council session on Uyghur Muslims

“Especially because it has not received the approval and support of the countries concerned,” said the delegation of the Republic of Indonesia regarding the consideration of the draft decision on the “Human rights situation in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China”.

The Indonesian representative explained that Indonesia once again underlines its unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting human rights globally, including in Xinjiang.

DANIEL AHMAD