Page 57 - Inzist Special Edition

S A F E K E E P I N G

O F F E L L O W I N D O N E S I A N S

Human interaction is a close-knit culture in various ethnic
groups in Indonesia. The bond among Indonesians is even
stronger when they live overseas.

As mandated by President Joko Widodo, citizen protection
is a top priority. During my five-year tenure here in New
Zealand, I have encountered numerous challenges in
providing ‘shelter’ to our fellow countrymen.

The Christchurch terror attack in 2019, where mass
shootings occurred in several mosques, was certainly one
of them. It was a test of leadership. Minutes after receiving
news from a terrified Indonesian student who was
trembling in his hiding place next to the Al Noor Mosque, I
initiated the establishment of an emergency call center at
the Embassy to provide 24-hour hotline assistance.

The center was pivotal in collecting actual and accurate
information in New Zealand to be conveyed to Indonesia.
This initiative was critical in ensuring that factual and
timely information is received by the victims’ families,
media, and the public in Indonesia. By doing so, we made
sure that they were less susceptible to hoax and false
information.

In the context of citizen protection, my staff and I have
been providing assistance and facilitations for fellow
Indonesians, especially those who work in farms, orchards,
and at seas in New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and the
Cook Islands.

Through this holistic approach, the Embassy wants to
reassure Indonesian citizens in New Zealand that the
Government of Indonesia is present to ensure their
wellbeing and legal rights is protected.

As appropriately put by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs, it’s
called, Peduli Warga Negara Indonesia or Caring for
Indonesian Citizens and that is what we do.

Comforting the victim family