Indonesia Won't Invite Myanmar Junta to Bali

jpnn.com, JAKARTA - Indonesia will not invite Myanmar to the 14th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), which will be held on December 9, 2021, considering the latter not having had a definitive government since a military coup last February.

"Myanmar is not invited because it is now unclear who to be invited," said Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah at a media gathering in Jakarta, Monday.

Apart from Myanmar, Indonesia will also not invite Sudan, which has been facing a crisis since its civilian government was overthrown by the military.

In last week's presentation regarding the organization of the 14th BDF, Faizasyah explained that the forum was intended to discuss democracy in the Asia Pacific region, where countries can share their best experiences in implementing democracy in the midst of various challenges.

Under the theme "Democracy for Humanity: Advancing Economic and Social Justice during the Pandemic", the forum will highlight three main issues during the Covid-19 pandemic, namely poverty, inequality, and inclusivity.

Foreign ministers from France, Norway, Chile, and China, as well as a number of experts, will talk in the 14th BDF, which will be attended by 46 representatives of countries and international organizations.

"Because of its inclusive nature, the BDF provides an opportunity for all countries in the region to participate, including countries that implement authoritarian government systems that are not democratic. But we hope that there are democratic values applied by these countries that can be taken as lessons," said Faizasyah.

This year's BDF is expected to produce a conclusion or policy recommendation on how countries in the Asia Pacific can overcome the Covid-19 pandemic crisis without compromising the democratic system they have chosen.