Vice Chairperson of Commission I Abdul Kharis Almasyhari chairs a meeting. Photo: Oji/Man

The Indonesian government, through the Law and Human Rights Ministry, is pressing ahead with its plan to issue a calling visa policy for Israel while promising to tighten the process. Responding to the policy, a Vice Chairperson of Commission I of the Indonesian House Abdul Kharis Almasyhari urged the government to refer to the 1945 Indonesian Constitution when making a regulation. Therefore, he called on the government to cancel the policy.

“The government is obviously mistaken when it resumes a calling visa process for Israel. The Preamble of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia clearly and firmly states that independence is the inalienable right of all nations. Therefore, all colonialism in the world must be abolished as it is not in conformity with humanity and justice. With Israel still occupying Palestine, that clearly and undoubtedly constitutes colonialism,” said Almasyhari in a press statement to Parliamentaria, Monday (30/11/2020).

The Member of the House from Prosperous Justice Party faction regretted the move made by the Law and Human Rights Ministry that contradicted the policies made by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. “I still and will always remember what our Madam Foreign Affairs Minister said ‘Palestine is at the heart of Indonesia’s foreign policy, and in every breath of the Indonesian diplomacy, the issue of Palestine is always there.’ The stand of the Foreign Affairs Minister is already good, but the Law and Human Rights Minister’s move issuing the calling visa policy is like slapping our own face,” stated Almasyhari.

The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, has been providing electronic visa service for foreigners who are subject to calling visa since 2012. The government has stipulated to accept calling visa applications for eight, namely Afghanistan, Guinea, Israel, North Korea, Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria and Somalia.

According to the legislator from Solo, Central Java constituency, in operating its foreign policy, Israel is a colonial state that has committed too many grave actions contrary to humanity and justice and have caused Palestinians to lose their homeland, and sovereignty as individuals, as citizens and as a nation. “As one of the representatives of the Indonesian people who upholds justice and humanity, I call on the government to cancel the policy,” Almasyahri concluded. (tn/es)