Prabowo vs Jokowi: Attendance & Political Signals

3. Megawati Soekarnoputri
Megawati attended the United Nations General Session in 2001 and 2003.
The moment of the 2001 general session became special because it was held only a few days after the 9/11 attacks in the United States (US). The attack made Muslims cornered because the Taliban was considered as its mastermind.

After the attack on September 11, 2001 (9/11) at the World Trade Center (WTC) and Pentagon, the phenomenon of Islamophobia increased sharply in many countries, especially in the United States and Europe.
Megawati as a representative of the country with the largest Muslim population is there.

Megawati returned and gave a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2003.

Photo: media.un.org President Megawati gave a speech at the 2003 UN General Assembly

Wearing a kebaya and giving a speech in English, Megawati emphasized the need for fundamental reforms in the UN body so that this international institution could work more effectively and make a real contribution to human life.
At that time, world leaders were indeed urged UN reform.

Speeches in English before the Annual Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Tuesday local time (early Wednesday WIB), Megawati emphasized that the United Nations must dare to review and empower its bodies and work methods.

“We must have the courage to review and empower the UN bodies and work methods,” Megawati was quoted as saying from the media video.un.org.

In addition to the UN reform issue, Megawati highlighted the prolonged conflict in the Middle East which she believed to be the root of the emergence of acts of terrorism throughout the world. He called for world leaders to immediately discuss and solve the fundamental problem.

“As the head of the largest Muslim country in the world, I invite all world leaders to give serious attention to this problem,” he said.

4. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) was actively attending and giving a speech in a number of UN General Assembly throughout his reign. Its presence confirms the role of Indonesian diplomacy on the global stage, ranging from the issue of world peace to the food and energy crisis.

During his 10 years of his government, SBY had been present directly six times.

SBY first gave a speech at the international forum at the 62nd general session in 2007, shortly after Indonesia was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. On that occasion, he emphasized Indonesia’s contribution to global peace and international diplomacy.

Photo: Seconds President SBY at the UN General Assembly

The following year, at the 63rd General Session in 2008, SBY raised the issue of the Global Food and Energy Crisis which was shaking the world economy. This issue is important because many developing countries, including Indonesia, feel the serious impact of commodity price turmoil.

SBY then consistently attended the forum at the 64th General Session (2009), 65 (2010), and 66 (2011). This successive presence strengthens Indonesia’s image as a large democratic country with a strategic position on the international arena.

SBY’s last speech as President was delivered at the 68th General Session of the United Nations on September 25, 2014. In that historic moment, he stressed the importance of the world did not associate terrorism with Islamic teachings. He also called for termination of war to maintain global peace.

The presence of SBY at the United Nations for almost a decade reflects the consistency of Indonesian diplomacy, which is trying to place itself as a bridge of dialogue between the Western world and the Islamic world, as well as the sound of developing countries.

Photo: Seconds President SBY at the UN General Assembly

5. Joko Widodo

Jokowi is always absent directly at the UN General Assembly in 10 years of his reign. During the first period of his administration in 2014-2019, Jokowi sent Jusuf Kalla to attend.
Jokowi had made a speech at the 2020 and 2021 general sessions but at that time he was not directly at the UN headquarters in New York.

Jokowi gave a virtual speech from Jakarta because the world was hit by Pandemi.

Photo: Jokowi at the UN General Assembly (Indonesian Presidential Press Bureau) Jokowi at the UN General Assembly (Indonesian Presidential Press Bureau)

In 2022-2024, Indonesia was trivketed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the UN General Assembly.

Photo: Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the United Nations (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz) Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 27, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

What about Gus Dur and BJ Habibie?

The reign of BJ Habibie only took place from May 1998 to October 1999. The very short and unstable government of the political situation made BJ Habibie rarely travel abroad and was absent in the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur often traveled abroad during his reign, including to the US.

Gus Dur also attended the UN General Assembly hearing in September 2000 but at that time he did not make a speech.

The moment of the 2000 general session is known as the Millennium Declaration of the United Nations (United Nations Millennium Declaration).

This declaration is the basis of the birth of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) which is valid for the 2000-2015 period.

Gus Dur returned to the United Nations in 2003 and gave a speech at the UN headquarters. However, his capacity is not as president because he has been deposed. Gus Dur made a speech after receiving the “Global Tolerance Award” award from the United Nations.

CNBC INDONESIA RESEARCH
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