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Indonesia: Afghan Deployment Could Bolster Military
November 16, 2001
Summary
Indonesia has offered to send peacekeepers to Afghanistan as part of a United Nations operation. The offer appears to contradict Jakarta's criticism of the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan. But by contributing to a primarily Muslim U.N. force, Jakarta can reconcile its differences with Washington without stirring militant Islamic sentiments at home.
Indonesia will send peacekeepers to Afghanistan if asked to participate in a United Nations operation, senior government and military officials have said. "As long as it is under the U.N. flag, Indonesia will try to fulfill the request because after all we are a member of the U.N.," the Jakarta Post quoted Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno as saying on Nov. 13.
The offer of troops serves a two-fold purpose. First, it allows Jakarta to strengthen political, economic and military ties with Washington, London and Canberra. Second, by participating in a primarily Muslim U.N. force, Indonesia can defuse underlying tensions at home generated by fundamentalist and militant Islamic elements. The decision to send peacekeepers under a U.N. banner rather than as part of a U.S.-led coalition gives Jakarta greater room to reconcile differences with Washington while avoiding stirring militant sentiments at home.
Ultimately, this could provide Indonesia's armed forces with greater latitude to ensure the nation's stability -- necessary to attract foreign aid, investment and debt restructuring. The military's past efforts, however, have left it with a poor human rights record that has strained relations with Washington and limited foreign investment for years.
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Indonesia: Afghan Deployment Could Bolster Military . . .