TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Miss Indonesia 2025 finalist from Papua's Pegunungan region, Merince Kogoya, has been disqualified from the competition after a digital footprint revealed she had uploaded a photo of herself waving the Israeli flag.
In an Instagram post dated May 16, 2023, from the account @kogoya_merry, Merince was seen holding the Israeli flag. The caption read, "For SION's sake, Faithful for JERUSALEM, Standing for ISRAEL, Rising for the Nation and Harvesting for the Nations."
The post later drew significant attention because it was uploaded during a period of Israeli military aggression against Palestine—a conflict that continues to this day.
Regulations on Displaying the Israeli Flag
The prohibition against displaying the Israeli flag in Indonesia is outlined in the Minister of Foreign Affairs Regulation Number 3 of 2019 on General Guidelines for Foreign Relations by Local Governments. The specific rule is found in Chapter X, Section B, Point 150, and was signed by then-Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, according to the BPK Regulation Database.
Key points from the regulation include:
Indonesia maintains no official relations with Israel at any level, including formal correspondence using official letterheads.
Official Israeli delegations are not permitted in Indonesian government facilities.
It is forbidden to hoist or use the Israeli flag, emblems, and other attributes, or to play the Israeli national anthem within Indonesian territory.
Israeli citizens may only visit Indonesia using regular (non-diplomatic) passports.
Visa arrangements for Israeli nationals must go through the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and are issued via the Indonesian embassies in Singapore or Bangkok in the form of affidavits.
Indonesia’s Diplomatic Stance on Israel
Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel. The country opposes Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and has consistently rejected any form of official engagement with Israel. This policy reflects Indonesia’s firm diplomatic stance on the issue.
Background on the Israeli Flag
According to Britannica, the origins of the Israeli flag are linked to the rise of Zionism in the late 19th century. Jacob Askowith and his son Charles created the Yehuja flag, first displayed at the B'nai Zion Educational Society hall in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 20, 1891.
The flag concept was also discussed at the First International Zionist Congress in 1897. Isaac Harris of Boston and David Wolffsohn proposed similar designs. Different versions of the flag were used by the Zionist movement and later by the Jewish Brigade Group of the British army during World War II.
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