Govt cautioned over UN mission

Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Four factions in the House of Representatives urged the government to move with caution over its offer to join a UN peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan, with one faction warning that Indonesia was playing into Washington's hands.

While the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, said it understood the government's stance, four other factions said Indonesia should not have made the offer so quickly.

Hajrianto Tohari of Golkar, the second largest faction, said the peacekeeping operation plan could be a ploy to force the United Nations into promoting Washington's agenda in Afghanistan.

"Naturally, the United States wants to wash its bloody hands. It is leaving the mess that it created for Muslim countries to clean up and to deal with the chaos," Hajrianto told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Firman Jaya Daeli of PDI Perjuangan, which has the largest faction in the House, said Indonesia's offer was consistent with its free and active foreign policy principle.

Firman nevertheless said the government should first consult with the House before sending its troops to Afghanistan.

Indonesia's offer was formally made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda at the United Nations General Assembly this week.

Indonesia, which has had considerable experience in peacekeeping operations dating back to the Suez Canal war in 1957, had been named with other predominantly Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Jordan and Turkey as being most suited to the job in Afghanistan.

The United Nations is currently discussing a plan for Afghanistan following the collapse of the Taliban regime in Kabul, looking at the possibility of forming an interim broad based coalition government and the establishment of a peacekeeping force.

Ahmad Sumargono, chairman of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) faction, cautioned that Indonesia's peacekeeping force could be used as a "bumper" for the United States in dealing with the people in Afghanistan.

He recalled that the United Nations had not once attempted to stop the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, launched on Oct. 7.

Zein Badjeber of the United Development Party (PPP) said the government's offer contradicted its earlier position of opposing the United States' military action in Afghanistan.

"The U.S. attack led to the ouster of the government in Kabul, and Afghanistan is now left in chaos. Why should our government be enthusiastic about cleaning up the mess that the U.S. has left behind?" he asked.

Ahmad Farhan Hamid of the Reform Faction said that before committing its troops, Indonesia should make sure that Afghanistan became a UN-administered territory.

"The status of Afghanistan is not clear now," Ahmad said, adding that sending troops at this stage would be a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty.