Indonesia on its 70th Anniversary of Independence Day
This year, Indonesia celebrates its 70th Anniversary of Independence Day. Since its declaration of independence in 1945, Indonesia has been expanding and growing fast, in terms of political, economic, educational and socio-welfare, including the enormous
Political development and good governance
Indonesia is the most populous country in ASEAN, with more than 250 million people. This places Indonesia as the largest democratic country in Southeast Asia. Indonesia rapidly grows and matures as a democratic system, which is marked by the era of reform through the People Power in 1998. Since then, free and fair general elections were held four times: in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014.
In 2014, Indonesia conducted the largest general election in Southeast Asia in a peaceful manner. The number of voters in the 2014 presidential election was more than 189 million. The 2014 General Election has elected President Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla as the seventh President of Indonesia and the 12th Vice President of Indonesia, respectively.
President Widodo underlined the nine Priority Agenda otherwise known as Nawa
Cita for Indonesia, namely: 1. To bring the presence of the State back to the people in order to fulfil its obligation in protecting the people and provide security to all citizens;
2. To enhance the presence of the government through good governance that is clean, effective, democratic, and reliable;
3. To build Indonesia from its periphery and strengthen rural areas within the framework of a unitary state of Indonesia;
4. To reject a weak state by reforming the system and law enforcement that is corruption-free, dignified and reliable;
5. To improve the quality of living of the Indonesian people;
6. To improve people’s productivity and competitiveness in the international market;
7. To achieve economic independence by moving the strategic sectors to domestic economy;
8. To revolutionize the nation’s character through a policy of restructuring the national education curriculum with advanced civic education; and,
9. To strengthen diversity and social restoration of Indonesia.
Indonesia as maritime fulcrum
Under President Widodo, Indonesia is envisioned as a global maritime fulcrum ( poros maritime dunia), wherein maritime connectivity becomes an important agenda. This vision focuses, among others, on improving Indonesia’s maritime resources development, strengthening Indonesia’s maritime security, and enhancing interisland connectivity by developing marine infrastructure, as well as maritime or border diplomacy.
The physical connectivity will enhance people- to- people contact, which will eventually invite more trade and investment to the country. In order to build such connectivity, the Indonesian government is undertaking effort to upgrade port infrastructure within the Indonesian archipelago. For this purpose, the Indonesian government has set up a three- pronged archipelago belt project, namely the Northern, Middle and Southern Archipelago Belts.
The global maritime fulcrum doctrine is aimed at bringing Indonesia’s strategic role in the region that is located between two continents, Asia and Australia; and two oceans, namely the Indian and the Pacific. For this grand design, the Indonesian government is developing plans for a “nautical highway system” and a “ring shipping route” in its maritime area which will become part of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC).
Indonesia’s role in regional and
international fora
At the regional and international context, Indonesia takes active participation by asserting its continued role and leadership. As a member of ASEAN, Indonesia underscores the importance of maintaining the centrality of ASEAN as a driver’s seat for a wider cooperation in the region. In April 2015, Indonesia hosted the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference, which was attended by 95 countries. Indonesia is also a member of various regional and international organizations, including UN, APEC, G-20 and the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).
Bilateral relations with the Philippines
Indonesia and the Philippines have
On the occasion of our 70th Independence Day, on behalf of the Indonesian ADB staff and Indonesian community, we wish happiness and prosperity for our beloved Indonesian people and for the Government of Indonesia in pursuing high and inclusive economic growth, achieving social development and playing greater roles on international fora. Indonesian Community Bhimantara Widyajala Executive Director, Asian Development Bank
Happy Independence Day, Indonesia. We wish Indonesia to be more prosperous and wealthy. Merdeka. Indonesia Student Association in the Philippines Mariana Oktavia
Happy 70th Anniversary to my nation. In the spirit of independence, let us unite towards a dignified, courteous and smart Indonesia. Indonesian Islamic Community Mardjuki Mustofa
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Indonesian Christian Community in the Philippines Redi Stevanus
established diplomatic relations since Nov. 24, 1949 and much has been accomplished between the two countries, both on a bilateral basis and in the framework of regional and multilateral forum, especially in ASEAN.
In 2013, total bilateral trade between Indonesia and the Philippines has reached $ 4.59 billion, a considerable increase from $ 4.51 billion in 2012. This bilateral trade will increase by involving more private sectors, business people, encouraging more creative economy and tourism industry to intensify their contacts and strike up more joint ventures, particularly within the framework of BIMPEAGA.
Frequent high level visits mark the close relationship and strong ties between Indonesia and the Philippines. On February 8– 9, 2015, President Widodo undertook a State Visit to the Philippines as an introductory visit to the ASEAN neighboring countries. The visit resulted to stronger cooperation with the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Protection of Migrants and Migrant Workers, Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) on Vocational Education and Combating Drugs Cooperation, as well as, Capacity Building Cooperation for Defence Officers. Just recently, in April 2015, Vice President Jejomar Binay attended the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference in Jakarta and Bandung.
The two countries signed a monumental Agreement on Maritime Boundary Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary in May last year. This maritime border accord is a result of 20 years of negotiations and serves as a model of a peaceful resolution to sea boundary disputes in the international community.
Indonesia and the Philippines have been supporting each other to bring durable peace in the areas of conflict. On the issue of southern Philippines, Indonesia, under the framework of Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC), has actively participated since 1993 in facilitating the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that led to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in 1996. Under the track of GPH- Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF) peace process, Indonesia also continues to send an observer team as part of the International Monitoring Team ( IMT) in Mindanao since 2012. On the other hand, the Philippines has extended assistance in Aceh by participating in the Aceh Monitoring Mission ( AMM) to ensure the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in 2006.
At the regional level, Indonesia and the Philippines are two of the five founding members of ASEAN. Both countries are working together on issues of common concern in attaining an ASEAN Community by the end of this year. Such endeavor is reflected in their efforts of advocating the finalization of the legally binding instrument of an ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP), of which the Philippines is the lead shepherd on this issue.
At the sub-regional level, Indonesia and the Philippines are fostering socio-economic development under the framework of East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), together with other countries, namely Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. Both countries also work closely in other regional and international fora, such as in APEC, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and UN.
Due to the increasing number of migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, both countries also promote mutual support and cooperation in the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants and migrant workers. In 2003, both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Migrant Workers, which then emphasized the Joint Declaration on the Protection of Migrants and Migrant Workers signed in February this year. Cooperation on this issue will continue to strengthen the bilateral and regional framework, such as in ASEAN.