Govt cautioned over UN mission<\/p>\n
Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Four factions in the House of Representatives urged the
\ngovernment to move with caution over its offer to join a UN
\npeacekeeping operation in Afghanistan, with one faction warning
\nthat Indonesia was playing into Washington's hands.<\/p>\n
While the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, said it
\nunderstood the government's stance, four other factions said
\nIndonesia should not have made the offer so quickly.<\/p>\n
Hajrianto Tohari of Golkar, the second largest faction, said
\nthe peacekeeping operation plan could be a ploy to force the
\nUnited Nations into promoting Washington's agenda in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\"Naturally, the United States wants to wash its bloody hands.
\nIt is leaving the mess that it created for Muslim countries to
\nclean up and to deal with the chaos,\" Hajrianto told The Jakarta
\nPost by phone.<\/p>\n
Firman Jaya Daeli of PDI Perjuangan, which has the largest
\nfaction in the House, said Indonesia's offer was consistent with
\nits free and active foreign policy principle.<\/p>\n
Firman nevertheless said the government should first consult
\nwith the House before sending its troops to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's offer was formally made by Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Hassan Wirayuda at the United Nations General Assembly
\nthis week.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which has had considerable experience in
\npeacekeeping operations dating back to the Suez Canal war in
\n1957, had been named with other predominantly Muslim countries
\nlike Bangladesh, Jordan and Turkey as being most suited to the
\njob in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The United Nations is currently discussing a plan for
\nAfghanistan following the collapse of the Taliban regime in
\nKabul, looking at the possibility of forming an interim broad
\nbased coalition government and the establishment of a
\npeacekeeping force.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Sumargono, chairman of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB)
\nfaction, cautioned that Indonesia's peacekeeping force could be
\nused as a \"bumper\" for the United States in dealing with the
\npeople in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
He recalled that the United Nations had not once attempted to
\nstop the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, launched on Oct. 7.<\/p>\n
Zein Badjeber of the United Development Party (PPP) said the
\ngovernment's offer contradicted its earlier position of opposing
\nthe United States' military action in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. attack led to the ouster of the government in Kabul,
\nand Afghanistan is now left in chaos. Why should our government
\nbe enthusiastic about cleaning up the mess that the U.S. has left
\nbehind?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Farhan Hamid of the Reform Faction said that before
\ncommitting its troops, Indonesia should make sure that
\nAfghanistan became a UN-administered territory.<\/p>\n
\"The status of Afghanistan is not clear now,\" Ahmad said,
\nadding that sending troops at this stage would be a violation of
\nAfghanistan's sovereignty.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-cautioned-over-un-mission-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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