President Jokowi Speaks Before UK Parliament

President Jokowi delivers a speech before the Parliament of the United Kingdom, at Westminster, London, Tuesday (19/4 afternoon), local time

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that Indonesia is now working hard to become a prosperous maritime country and a country that upholds the values of universal humanity, pluralism, and tolerance, as well as a country that promotes democracy, respect human rights, and a country where Islam and democracy can live in harmony.

The President also believes that the developing Indonesia will become a rachmat (blessing) for the world.

“The world is now fighting against poverty, injustice, terrorism and extremism violence,” President Jokowi said in his speech before the Parliament of the United Kingdom in London, on Tuesday (19/4) afternoon local time.

That belief, the President added, is based on the fact that Indonesia has two important assets in the life of the nation, namely Islam and democracy.

The President also mentioned that Indonesia is the largest Muslim population country with more than 200 million Muslims that have moderate character.

The President admitted that he is proud that Islam in Indonesia plays an important role in consolidating the democracy, maintaining plurality and tolerance, promoting moderation in the society, opposing radicalism, terrorism, extremism violence, and becoming an inspiration for the world.

According to President Jokowi, Indonesia becomes the third largest democratic country since the 1998 reform, in which the country has been holding four democratic and peaceful elections so far as the only mechanisms for changing the administration.

“All citizens despite their race, gender, and religion shall be equal before the law and have the same right and duty,” President Jokowi explained, adding that military is no longer involved in politics, and freedom of speech, press and religion are protected by the constitution.

However, President Jokowi admitted, just like any other countries, two important assets in the life of the nation, namely moderate Islam and democracy, are still facing several challenges, such as intolerance in the society, radicalism, and extremism violence as well as terrorism in the name of religion.

He also said that several Indonesian Citizens (WNI) have joined international terrorist groups. However, compared to the total population of Indonesia which is 252 million people, he added, the number is relatively small.

To address those matters, the President added, the Indonesian Government would strengthen law enforcement by revising Anti-terrorism Law as well as by improving the competence of the intelligence authorities.

“However, the most important thing is that we will promote soft power approach by carrying out religious and cultural approaches, involving participation from the people, particularly mass and religious organizations, and conducting de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs for the people,” President Jokowi explained, adding that Indonesia have made international cooperation in promoting peace and cooperation among civilisations.

The President also reminded that we cannot address current challenges with military power only, unilateral measure, nor with approaches containing intolerance and prejudice. “Moreover, intolerance and prejudice characterized terrorist and radical or extremist violence movements,” the President stated.

Therefore, President Jokowi added, the acts of terror must remind us on the importance of international cooperation, the importance of promoting tolerance and not to be provoked as well as the importance of solving the root of the problem.

“The voice and effort to create peace cannot be done by Indonesia alone,” President Jokowi firmly said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi emphasized that countries in the world must cooperate to assist the development process of the countries in crisis. Thus, it will create political stability, and the economic development is the key.

“The United Kingdom and other European countries may and shall play the important role,” the President said.

The President also stressed that Indonesia is ready to cooperate in all sectors with the United Kingdom and Europe in order to bring world peace and eradicate conflicts among civilisations.

President Jokowi believes once we are able to cope with this situation together, intolerance and prejudice will disappear from our lives.

“We will beat the radicalism and extremism violence as well as terrorism,” the President said.

The presence of President Jokowi in London, the United Kingdom, is in the series of a working visit to Europe, held from April 17 to 23 to Germany, the UK, Brussels and the Netherlands.

Before delivering speech at the United Kingdom Parliament Office, President Jokowi spoke at an International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting and met with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron. (UN/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)