Jakarta. Presidential hopeful Anies Baswedan said Sunday that he wanted to put Indonesia in the driver’s seat in international forums, particularly to eradicate colonialism amidst Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

Speaking at Sunday’s presidential debate that focused on foreign policies, Anies said Indonesia should do more than simply give statements at forums. Anies does not want Indonesia to be just a spectator on the global stage.

“A president should be the commander of Indonesian diplomacy. He should not simply attend forums, but he should enlighten [those conferences] and work hard, ... especially to eradicate colonialism on the planet, which is of utmost importance. [A president] should not only give statements in ceremonies. The president and all diplomats should work hard towards that goal, particularly for Palestine,” Anies said at the Istora Sports Stadium in Jakarta on Sunday.

His attempt echoes Anies’s previously announced intent to pursue a “value-led diplomacy”. In his previous statements, the values may include respecting territorial integrity and human lives.

“We will restore Indonesia’s position as the leading actor in the global constellation. So Indonesia is not just a spectator, but it also determines the direction of peace and prosperity for all countries, be it at the global or regional level,” Anies said.

Anies is competing with Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo for this 2024 presidential race. Hundreds of millions of Indonesians will cast their votes for the next president next month.

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