Burgeoning jihadism, the rise of China, her own extraordinary human rights and democratic accomplishments have all thrust Indonesia to the front and centre of the geo-political landscape. A leading and permanent place must be found for this new exemplar of decency as soon as possible; but what position on the world’s stage can Indonesia take? As the greatest Muslim nation in the world, sitting on the front line of China’s outrageous claim in the South China Sea, she is mightily constrained. Indonesia must take her position on the world stage with the greatest of care. Her position must reflect, not only her geographical location but her political non-alignment, her moderate Islamism, her role within ASEAN, her Chinese relationship and her democracy with the greatest accuracy possible. Indonesia needs the best geo-political map available to find her very eminent place in the world.



The blue countries are current members of the Commonwealth, the green ones have historic connections to the Commonwealth, the striped ones have historic connections and have applied to join, the pink ones have no historic connections but have, at some level, expressed an interest to join the Commonwealth.



Indonesia’s membership of the Commonwealth would mean, suddenly, overnight, the majority of the world’s Muslim faith belong to an institution dedicated exclusively to liberal democracy and the rule of common rather than sharia law. It would be very surprising, even shocking, to non-Muslims worldwide who are growing more anti -Muslim every day. The surprise could clear the geo-political atmosphere enough so non-Muslim and Muslim alike could see a distinct, possible pathway to reconciliation. There could be hope where today there is none.



One of the things you miss, because of the scale of the map, is the Palestine National Authority has already applied to join the Commonwealth – it was knocked back because its borders aren’t settled. Once those borders are settled Israel will be welcomed into our “family of nations” to. The potential of the Commonwealth is, for all geo-political intents and purposes limitless.



Indonesia was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and it means a lot to her. Forty two of the fifty four member states of the Commonwealth belong to the Non-Aligned Movement. She would feel right at home in our “family of nations”.



Another striking aspect of the map is Indonesia is the only Indian Ocean littoral state not coloured in. There is the tiny sliver of Thailand’s Indian Ocean coastline similarly bereft but essentially the Indian Ocean is the Commonwealth Ocean. In an infamous and supposedly secret memorandum written sixteen years ago by the Director of the General Logistic Department of the P.L.A. , he wrote “We can no longer accept the Indian Ocean as only an ocean of the Indians… we are taking armed conflicts in the region into account.” As China seeds its “string of pearls” across the INDIAN Ocean it would lift every free person’s spirits world-wide to see Indonesia colour herself blue on our map. The great wall of decency would stretch uninterrupted from deep in the South Pacific to the Himalayas. It’s time to shut the gate on China’s complete lack of respect for everyone’s sovereignty. Indonesia can do it with the most unprovocative act in the diplomatic repertoire - Commonwealth Membership.



As soon as she complies with the criteria laid out in the Harare Declaration 1991 Burma will join the Commonwealth. She will join Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei as Commonwealth Members of ASEAN. You can see from the map that Cambodia has already applied but she will have to do what Burma did to China and more to get a look-in. Of course the Philippines and Thailand are possibilities and Indonesia is, already, far more democratically respectable than a number of established Commonwealth Members. Indonesia is, already, leading ASEAN’s internal efforts in human rights. The ASEAN Political Security Community a body incorporating principles such as the rule of law, democracy, good governance, and the promotion and protection of human rights was Indonesia’s idea and baby. Indonesia has, within ASEAN, replicated the Commonwealth’s mission statement to the last word.



Come on Indonesia……… a third of humanity can’t wait for beautiful you to join our family of nations.



Tony grey



