Indonesians demonstrate stronger solidarity for Gaza compared to Xinjiang

Indonesia's Disparate Reaction to Global Strife: A Crash Course

Indonesians have demonstrated an extraordinary show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, participating in massive protests, donating generously, and launching viral social media campaigns in response to Israeli attacks on Gaza. Yet, their response to the plight of Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang region has been comparatively lackluster, despite well-documented years of repression. But why? This article takes a closer look at the factors that influence public empathy and outrage.

Perspective is Key

The contrast in public response is not a byproduct of selective empathy. Instead, it stems from three fundamental factors: the visibility of the crises, the nature of the repression, and the historical and cultural narratives that frame these conflicts within Indonesia's social and political imagination.

Seeing is Believing

Gaza dominates global media headlines with its nearly daily updates on Israeli airstrikes, civilian casualties, and the destruction of infrastructure. This continuous, dramatic imagery creates an emotional urgency that compels international action. Indonesian media outlets and social media platforms aid this process, helping to ensure that the suffering in Gaza remains at the forefront of public consciousness.

In contrast, the Xinjiang crisis is largely hidden from the global gaze due to China's tight restrictions on independent reporting from the region. This opacity makes it challenging for the average person to identify with the crisis, as its underlying realities feel distant and abstract.

Repression Takes Many Forms

The Israeli airstrikes on Gaza are horrific, indiscriminate, and bombastic-traits that generate widespread outrage and activism due to their immediate visual impact. By comparison, the repression suffered by Uyghurs in Xinjiang is more insidious, taking the form of cultural erasure, institutional control, and surveillance. While no less wretched, this subtle form of oppression is harder to grasp emotionally, as it lacks the explosive visual spectacle that fuels global outrage.

History Matters

The historical and cultural contexts surrounding each crisis play a significant role in how Indonesians respond. The conflict in Gaza is often framed as a continuation of colonial oppression and resonates with Indonesia's anti-colonial legacy. By contrast, the Xinjiang crisis is viewed more as a domestic concern, which does not provoke the same level of historical and ideological emotion.

Empowering through Advocacy

The disparity in public outrage can be partially attributed to the narrative and advocacy strategies employed for each crisis. The Gaza conflict has been extensively framed and advocated for in a way that galvanizes international support and resonates with cultural and historical sentiments. Compelling narratives, captivating visuals, and impactful advocacy are required to make the Xinjiang crisis more accessible and relatable to the broader public.

In conclusion, the level of public outrage in Indonesia towards the Uyghur crisis in Xinjiang pales in comparison to the conflict in Gaza. This disparity can be attributed to the crises' visibility, the nature of the repression, and their historical and cultural framing. To bridge this gap, it's crucial to increase access to information, craft compelling narratives, and amplify the stories of those affected to ignite global empathy and outrage.

[1] Data from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local news publications in Indonesia and China.

Despite Indonesians passionately supporting the Palestinian people in the Gaza crisis, their response to the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang has been relatively subdued, as evidenced by data from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local news publications.
These differing reactions are not due to selective empathy but rather stem from the visibility of the crises, the nature of the repression, and the historical and cultural narratives that influence Indonesian public sentiment.
Gaza, with its daily live updates on Israeli attacks, civilian casualties, and infrastructure destruction, dominates global media headlines, creating an emotional urgency that induces international action.
The Xinjiang crisis, on the other hand, remains obscured due to China's strict restrictions on independent reporting, making it difficult for ordinary people to relate emotionally to the underlying realities of the tragedy.
The Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have a more visceral impact due to their indiscriminate and bombastic nature, while the Uyghurs' cultural erasure, institutional control, and surveillance in Xinjiang are less immediately apparent, though no less wretched.
The historical and cultural context surrounding each crisis significantly impacts how Indonesians respond, with the Gaza conflict resonating more with Indonesia's anti-colonial legacy.
The narrative and advocacy strategies employed for each crisis also play a role, as the Gaza conflict has been framed and advocated for in a way that generates widespread global support.
To better engage Indonesian public empathy on the Uyghur crisis, it's essential to increase access to information, craft compelling narratives, and amplify the stories of those affected, mirroring the strategies used for the Gaza conflict.
These efforts can help bridge the gap in public awareness and outrage, ensuring that the plight of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang receives the attention and support it deserves, echoing the level of response given to the Gaza conflict.
In this context, international humanitarian organizations, news agencies, and activists can play pivotal roles in reporting, advocating, and influencing public opinion, ensuring that the voices of the oppressed are heard and their stories told.
To ultimately achieve a more equitable distribution of empathy and outrage in response to crises in the Middle East, Asia, and other regions of the world, it is crucial for the global community to recognize and address the structural and cultural factors that influence public consciousness, striving for a more integrated, empathetic approach to general news and politics.