RI rules out joint ASEAN peace force<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia rejected yesterday a proposal by its
\nneighbors, in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
\nto establish a joint peacekeeping force which would be available
\nfor any mission under the United Nations banner.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat
\nsaid, given the different military doctrines used in ASEAN
\ncountries, such a force would be ineffective in carrying out a
\npeacekeeping mission.<\/p>\n
The idea for a joint ASEAN military force was broached last
\nmonth during a meeting between Malaysian defense minister Najib
\nTun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Boon Yan in
\nSingapore, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore and Thailand.<\/p>\n
The 28-year old association has so far managed to avoid
\nforming a regional defense pact although security and defense
\nissues are now increasingly being incorporated into their agenda.<\/p>\n
Edi yesterday told a hearing with the House of
\nRepresentatives' Commission I, which deals with security issues,
\nthat Indonesia had not been consulted on the proposal for a joint
\nmilitary force to the United Nations.<\/p>\n
He stressed that it would be much more effective if each ASEAN
\ncountry was to send its forces individually to the various UN
\npeacekeeping missions.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has taken part in a number of UN peace missions
\nacross the globe, including Cambodia, Bosnia Herzegovina and
\nSomalia.<\/p>\n
Doctrine<\/p>\n
The success of these missions was largely attributed to the
\nIndonesian military doctrine and the ability of the troopers to
\nadapt to the regions where they were assigned, Edi said.<\/p>\n
Asked by a legislator about the recent signing of a defense
\nagreement between Malaysia and Singapore, Edi said the pact
\nfocused on cooperation in their respective weapons industry.
\n"Such a cooperation is normal between two neighboring countries
\nin maximizing their weapons industry facilities and reduce their
\ndependence upon foreign facilities," he said.<\/p>\n
The minister was also asked about the state of the current
\ndispute between Indonesia and Malaysia over the ownership of
\nSipadan and Ligatan, two small islands off East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in a strong position to stake its claim, he said,
\nreferring to the abundance of historical documents that support
\nIndonesia's title to the two islands.<\/p>\n
The minister reiterated Indonesia's insistence that the matter
\nshould be resolved bilaterally or at least through ASEAN
\nmechanism.<\/p>\n
Following the break down of the last negotiations to resolve
\nthe conflict, Malaysia has been pressing Indonesia to hand the
\nmatter over to the United Nations' International Court of
\nJustice.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has been touting Sipadan as one of its latest diving
\nparadise. Indonesia has regularly sent its patrol boats to
\nmonitor the activities there. (emb)<\/p>",
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