Peace-keeping mission a pride

Peace-keeping mission a pride

JAKARTA (JP): Taking part in the peace-keeping mission in Afghanistan would not only be an honor but would also improve the Indonesian military's image, a legislator said on Thursday.

"But above all, the request should come from the UN," said Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I in charge of defense and security.

Military and government officials have expressed readiness to dispatch peace-keeping forces to Afghanistan any time the UN requests.

Indonesia has played an active role in peace-keeping in various countries from the Suez Canal, Egypt in 1957 to the Philippines in 1997.

Ambong played down possible resistance from local hardline Muslim groups, saying that the opposition could be motivated by anti-American sentiments.

The mission would be mostly humanitarian in nature as the Afghans needed peace to rebuild their country after the war, he said. --Antara