RI set for peace keeping mision to Congo

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Still busy with its ongoing offensive against rebels in Aceh, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will send a peacekeeping mission, under the auspices of the United Nations, to Congo, which is mired in civil war.

TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said, while inspecting the final rehearsal of troops prior to their departure on July 28, that the soldiers would bear responsibility for maintaining the country's image during their one-year stint.

"The country's pride will rest with you. If you commit wrongdoings not only the image of TNI but that of the whole country will be tarnished," Endriartono told the troops at the Army's construction corps headquarters in Depok, south of Jakarta.

It will be the third peacekeeping mission sent by Indonesia to the Central Africa country since those in 1960 and 1963.

Endriartono was accompanied by Maj. Gen. Edi Budianto, the TNI officer in charge of preparing the peacekeeping force.

The Indonesian peacekeepers under the Garuda Contingent XX-A comprise 141 Army soldiers, including 32 medical staff, two Air Force officers and 28 marines. The 171-strong contingent will be stationed in Bunia, Congo, along with peacekeeping forces from India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The mission is led by France.

Some of the TNI soldiers are bomb specialists who will assist in the clearing of land mines.

Edi Budianto said the troops underwent training to meet the UN standard last year but their deployment was delayed, pending political developments in Congo.

"As soon as the UN issued a resolution recently stating that the situation there had turned ugly, they asked us to depart. Five UN officials inspected the troops last week and rated our capability as above average," Edi said.

Reportedly, each soldier will receive US$1,028 in net allowance per month from the UN, but Edi said the government would determine the amount.

Indonesia has participated in UN peacekeeping missions across the globe since 1957. The first Indonesian peacekeepers were sent to the Middle East, plagued by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Despite falling under the international spotlight due to TNI's alleged involvement in the East Timor mayhem in 1999, the UN's trust in Indonesia for peacekeeping missions remains intact.

Thirteen TNI officers were implicated in the violence and destruction that took place in the former Indonesian province after the UN-administered popular ballot, which resulted in an overwhelming vote for independence. The landmark human rights court convicted only three of the officers.

.RM 8.50"

Indonesia's previous peace missions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Year Name Place of deployment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jan. 1957 to Sept. 1957 Garuda Contingent I Egypt-Israel Sept. 1960 to May 1961 Garuda Contingent II Congo

1962-1963 Garuda Contingent III Congo Jan. 1973 to Aug. 1973 Garuda Contingent IV Vietnam Aug. 1973 to April 1974 Garuda Contingent V Vietnam Dec. 1973 to Oct. 1974 Garuda Contingent VI Egypt April 1974 to June 1975 Garuda Contingent VII-A and VII-B Vietnam Sept. 1974 to Oct. 1979 Garuda Contingent VIII(1-9) Egypt Aug. 1988 to Nov. 1990 Garuda Contingent IX Iraq-Iran June 1989 to March 1990 Garuda Contingent X Namibia

1992 to 1995 Garuda Contingent XI(1-5) Kuwait July 1992 to April 1993 Garuda Contingent XIIA-XIID Cambodia July 1992 to April 1993 Garuda Contingent XIII Somalia Nov. 1993 to 1997 Garuda Contingent XIV Bosnia-Herzegovina Oct. 1995 to Nov. 1995 Garuda Contingent XV Georgia June 1994 to Dec. 1994 Garuda Contingent XVI Mozambique Oct. 1994 to Nov. 1994 Garuda Contingent XVII Philippines

1995 Garuda Contingent XVIII Angola

2001 Garuda Contingent XIX Sierra Leone