House of Representatives (DPR RI) Commission I Chair Meutya Hafid has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare an evacuation plan for Indonesian citizens in Ukraine in the event the crisis in the country worsens.
“I also urge the Embassy of Indonesia in Kyiv and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a contingency plan with the Indonesian Embassy in other cities, such as Warsaw, Bratislava, Bucharest and Moscow, to provide protection for Indonesian citizens there,” she said in a statement here on Friday.
She also noted that the safety of Indonesians is of utmost importance. Therefore, the ministry needs to monitor the situation in Ukraine.
Hafid stressed that the Indonesian government must prioritize the safety of Indonesians in Ukraine.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must ensure that Indonesian citizens (in Ukraine) are in a safe place, in this case, the Embassy of Indonesia in Kyiv,” she noted.
Besides that, Hafid said that what happened in Ukraine is clearly unfortunate because it is contrary to the international order based on laws and rules.
To this end, she urged all parties to restrain themselves and called for an immediate de-escalation and a ceasefire.
“As a country that upholds multilateralism, Indonesia strongly rejects all forms of action that can damage world peace and stability, specifically if it can cause casualties, especially among civilians,” she stressed.
Hafid said she hoped that any existing problems could be resolved through negotiations, rather than military actions.
Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities Judha Nugraha announced that 138 Indonesian citizens in Ukraine were safe.
“According to our communication with the Indonesian citizens in Ukraine, currently, they are safe. Please, stay calm and alert while staying in contact with the Embassy of Indonesia in Kyiv,” Nugraha remarked at a press briefing here on Thursday.
Most of the 138 Indonesian citizens, comprising migrant workers, students, and spouses of local people, reside in Kyiv, while the rest of them live in other regions across Ukraine, he noted.
Source: Antara News