TNI prepares troops for Congo peace mission

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor

The Indonesian Military (TNI) is preparing to deploy some 180 troops to join an international peacekeeping force in the war- wracked Congo by the end of next month.

The soldiers from the Army, Navy and Air Force began their non-combatant training in Bogor on Monday to prepare for their assignments in the central African country.

The troops are to take part in the international peace operation in the Congo by assisting the establishment of infrastructure facilities such as roads, airports, electricity supplies and water facilities.

TNI chief of general affairs Vice Marshall Wartoyo in a speech read out by the chief of the Bandung Training and Education Command Let. Gen. Cornel Simbolon, said the training was aimed at improving the skills of soldiers.

"We are going to send around 180 non-combatant soldiers from our three different forces, each with their own skills and expertise.

"The material given in the training is in line with their duties; non-combatant functions, such as constructing buildings, roads and other facilities," Cornel said after the opening ceremony for the training.

Indonesia first sent troops to Africa in 1957, when soldiers joined United Nations forces to restore order in Egypt.

Three years later, Indonesia sent more soldiers to join international forces in the Congo, which was being wracked by post-independence fighting.

"The dynamic nature of our assignments shows that our country has maintained ... a positive image in the international community," Cornel said.