Indonesia’s Unity in Diversity as host to Asian Africa Youth Government and G20
Unity in Diversity
…Indonesia’s national motto. The most populous country in Southeast Asia, with the highest population of Muslims in the world, is this year’s host to the most-awaited G-20 Summit. Does Indonesia have the potential to harmonize different groups, inside and outside its territories? Is the next generation Indonesia still the beacon of coexistence that it is? Will it continue to set an example of diversity and inclusion to the rest of the world?
AsiaTV and AfricaTV had a joint conversation with Saddam Wiryosenjoyo, President of the Asian African Youth Government, about his messages for the next generation. It is not without saying that Asia is the most diverse region in the world, in terms of religions, cultures, dialects, even politics. Next to Mother Africa, it is also a very youthful region, in terms of human population.
Get to know Saddam, AAYG, and how you can be involved. Here is our 5-question fireside chat:
- Who is Saddam as a young leader?
I am native of Sumatra and Java. As a youth leader, I began at the student governance level, as President of the Muslim Association University of Indonesia. Currently, I am a special staff of a parliament member and also a PhD Student in governmental science. With much gratitude from the AAYG team and its members, I have been elected as the new President, dedicated to advance Asia-Africa relations, and our shared values for the welfare of young people around the world.
2. What is the Asian African Youth Government, and why should we be a part of it?
In 2015, the Asian African Youth Government was established, in support of the very first Asia Africa Conference 18 April 1955, which was attended by 29 mostly newly-independent member states (54% of the world’s population) and was instrumental to the development of the Non-Aligned Movement. AAYG has been supported by the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a permanent secretariat in Bandung, which is also the Asia-Africa capital from 1955. With 52 countries represented in its membership, AAYG’s vision is to develop youth-to-youth soft diplomacy. This year, our 2 priority areas are : Climate Action, and Peace and Security, and we welcome partnerships with all stakeholders who share these important objectives.
3. What is the most pressing issue that Indonesia is tackling today?
AAYG is dedicated to play an active role in the success of the G-20 on 15–16 November in Bali. With the current Russia-Ukraine crisis, various stakeholders need to be viewed more fair and objectively. Based on the Bandung principle of 1955, sovereignty is at the center of governance, to protect states from neo-colonialism. Nobody wants war — at the same time the issue of biological weapons which can endanger people and planet. In addition, USA and NATO involvement in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Palestine, should be viewed in the same lens by the international community, in what was also observed by some as Rosso-phobia. For Indonesia, we believe that it has a strategic position, given its good relations with almost all parties, especially Russia, in an effort to balance the world powers. We consistently encourage the Indonesian government to consistently separate political and economic problems, especially at the brink of COVID-19 recovery.
4. What can young people do?
The future for the youth will be at risk with the many conflicts in the world, so we should really take this opportunity with Indonesia as president of G20, Last 1 April, I met the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobyeva, in support of Russia’s presence in the important meeting of the year. The Y20 and G20 alike should focus on solutions post COVID-19, where each and every stakeholder is involved. In addition, I also met the National Youth Council of Russia to explore more youth-to-youth dialogues, so that we can educate people with our shared narratives, and implement concrete partnerships on the ground. Furthermore, AAYG continues to promote on its own platforms youth to youth diplomacy, through an upcoming parliamentary forum.
5. Final message to the next generation Africa and Asia
Young people must have determination to right (correct) the future — and even the present. Young people must always choose the value of life, because war has many consequences. However, in doing so, we must educate and engage ourselves to understand the deeper geopolitics, so that we do not commit the mistakes of the previous generations. The values of integrity and honesty are very much Islamic as they are universal values, to show us what is clearly right from wrong. Political issues are heavy, but if young people do not comment, youth will lose their future.
Politics shape the policy for the next generation.
Edited by: Regine Guevara, AsiaTVS
