[Kabar-indonesia] UN invites RI to send troops to Lebanon

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post 
Sunday, September 3, 2006

UN invites RI to send troops to Lebanon

Endy M. Bayuni and Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

The United Nations has formally asked Indonesia to be part of its 
peacekeeping forces in Southern Lebanon, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Saturday.

"We received a letter of invitation this morning," Hassan announced at a 
press conference during the Global Inter-media Dialog.

Indonesia will contribute 1,000 troops to the force, he said, adding that the 
government is now discussing the details of the deployment with the UN 
Peacekeeping operation office.

He said an advance team would leave for Lebanon on September 20, and full 
deployment of the Indonesian troops would take place before Sept. 28.

On Friday, Indonesian officials said Israel had withdrawn its earlier 
objection to Indonesia's participation after some exchanges conducted with the 
mediation of the United States.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, does not recognize the 
Jewish state but has accepted in principle the two-state proposal.

The Indonesian troops will join the largely European peacekeeping contingent.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said last week the UN force does not have the 
mandate to disarm Hizbollah, the armed group that Israel targeted in its 
widespread bombing campaign in Lebanon this month. That job, according to Annan, 
would be left to the Lebanese forces.

The Indonesian public is in two minds about the deployment of its frontline 
troops in Lebanon. Some believe that given the situation on the ground, it 
would put them in harm's way. Others say Indonesia should not take part in the 
mission if it means disarming Hizbollah.

Indonesia has taken part in many UN peacekeeping missions in the past, which 
is consistent with the constitutional mandate that the country takes an active 
part in promoting peace around the world. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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