Indonesian volunteers<\/p>\n
During the recent anti-American demonstrations, following the
\nU.S. military campaign in Afghanistan in search of Osama bin
\nLaden, there were daily reports about Indonesian volunteers
\nsigning up to fight alongside the Taliban in what they called a
\njihad (holy war). Despite the government's disapproval, a couple
\nof hundred of them managed to make it to Afghanistan and have
\npresumably taken part in the fighting.<\/p>\n
The latest reports about their whereabouts only mention that
\nthey have been taken prisoner by the Northern Alliance forces. If
\nthey had refused to surrender or not defected they could very
\nwell be among those who have been slaughtered.<\/p>\n
Officially, the Indonesian government is making no effort to
\nfind out what has actually happened to them. One thing is
\ncertain, these Indonesian volunteers were traveling without
\nproper documents.<\/p>\n
Only the Indonesian Red Cross can still do something, by
\ncontacting the International Red Cross to help arrange the safe
\nreturn home for those volunteers unless, of course, they are
\nalready being held in captivity.<\/p>\n
When the war is over, women will have a greater role to play.
\nAlready five Afghan women have been included in the power-sharing
\ntalks in Bonn, Germany. But one wonders why so many Indonesian
\nwomen, who took part in supporting the Taliban regime, were so
\nignorant of the fate of women there.<\/p>\n
It is important to remember that Afghanistan still needs
\nvolunteers to work there as nurses, doctors, engineers and
\nteachers to help rebuild the country. But where are those
\nvolunteers? Before they go they should learn English or Arabic
\nand be willing to sacrifice their future. Alternatively, they
\ncould work as volunteer social workers under the UN flag or any
\nother such organization.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-volunteers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }