REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The House of Representatives (DPR) supports the government's decision to recall Indonesian ambassador-designate to Brazil Toto Riyanto and convey a diplomatic protest against the country.

"The government's decision is correct and we should support it," Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR Tantowi Yahya said here on Saturday.

Yahya's statement was related to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's refusal to accept Riyanto's credentials when the diplomat was already at the presidential palace for the credentials ceremony.

"Indonesia should convey its objection in strong terms," he emphasized.

According to Yahya, no country can dictate another's legal system, and as a sovereign state, Brazil should understand and accept this.

This unfriendly move by the Brazilian government will hamper bilateral relations between the nations in various fields.

In addition to the Super Tucano aircraft that Indonesia ordered from Brazil to watch over its coastlines, it also ordered for a Multi-Launcher Rocket System from the country.

"We will hold a dialogue with the Ministry of Defense to evaluate this cooperation, if Brazil does not change its stance," he affirmed.

Moreover, Yahya pointed out that as one of the largest meat producers in the world, Brazil is currently trying to supply the commodity to Indonesia.

"Brazil needs Indonesia in these two sectors (defense and meat)," he observed.

He asserted that as Indonesia is in a state of emergency over drugs, the government should not be afraid of the kind of foreign pressure being shown by Brazil and Australia.

Earlier, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep regret over the step taken by the government of Brazil to abruptly postpone the presentation of credentials by Riyanto, the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil, after he was formally invited for the ceremony to be held at the presidential palace of Brazil at 9.00 a.m. Brazilian time on February 20.

"The manner in which the Foreign Minister of Brazil suddenly informed that the presentation of credentials by the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil had been postponed, when the ambassador-designate was already at the palace, is unacceptable to Indonesia," a statement on the ministry's official website said on Saturday.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Brazilian Ambassador to Indonesia on February 20 at 22.00 hours to convey the strongest possible terms of protest towards the unfriendly act of the government of Brazil, and presented a formal note of objection.

The government of Indonesia also recalled the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil to Jakarta, till the government of Brazil determines a time for the presentation of his credentials.

As a democratic sovereign state with its own sovereign, independent and impartial justice system, no foreign country or party can interfere in the implementation of Indonesia's prevailing laws within its jurisdiction, including in the enforcement of laws to address drug trafficking, the ministry further noted in the statement.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika