INDONESIA KEEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO PEACEBUILDING EFFORTS FOR LASTING PEACE by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 31, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesia, which deployed its first peacekeepers for the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Missions in 1957, has sent 2,871 troops, including 64 women, for UN peacekeeping operations worldwide this year.

            The Indonesian government has been consistently contributing to the efforts aimed at achieving the principles and purposes of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security, particularly in light of the major dynamic changes that are taking place in the current global arena.

          The country accords high priority to the cause of UN peacekeeping missions and has actively participated in the UN Peacekeeping Operations since the past six decades through its contribution to the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) in the Middle East. 
     Indonesia is one of the biggest contributors, as it has deployed its security personnel in the UN Peacekeeping Forces in addition to providing weaponry systems for peace missions in 10 countries.        
     In fact, Indonesia is the 10-largest contributor among 124 countries that have deployed personnel in the UN Peacekeeping Forces.

          Indonesia's contingents have been among the peacekeeping forces sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Sinai, Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, Central African Republic, Mali, and Western Sahara. Indonesia had sent its largest contingent to Cambodia in the early 1990s.

          It is currently the top contributing country in UNIFIL, headquartered in Lebanon, where the Indonesian contingent has some 1,300 personnel. Furthermore, three Indonesian officers have been assigned to hold leadership positions as force commanders or chief military observers in three UN Peacekeeping missions: UNEF, UN Protection Force, and UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. 
    As part of the commitment, Indonesia has established an Indonesian Peace and Security Center, which was inaugurated by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Sentul, Bogor District, West Java Province, on December 19, 2011.

         Indonesia is keen to enhance its participation further by increasing the number of its personnel to four thousand peacekeepers by 2019.

         To this end, the government has formulated a "Roadmap on Vision 4,000 Peacekeepers" as guidance that lays out means and ways to materialize such a goal.

        Maintaining peace is an integral part of Indonesia's DNA, as it is mandated in the country's Constitution, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi remarked.

         "Throughout our experience, a key lesson learnt was that countries emerging from conflict often face shortages in capacity, which is needed to sustain peace, such as teachers, medical doctors, nurses, engineers, and law and also policymakers," Marsudi noted.

         To this end, civilian capacity and expertise in post-conflict areas can complement the military and police personnel in peacekeeping operations, she observed.

         Building civilian capacity to sustain peace in conflict-ridden countries is crucial.

         "For Indonesia, the agenda of civilian capacity is an opportunity to share our experience and expertise," Marsudi remarked during a seminar on "Building Indonesia's Civilian Capacity and its Role in Sustaining Peace" held at her office, recently.

        The lives of some 65 million people in the world are at risk in conflict-hit regions, and the number is the highest since World War II, UN Resident Coordinator for Indonesia Anita Nirody noted during the seminar.

         Hence, Indonesia is keen to contribute to the advancement of peace-building capacity for sustaining peace.

        Minister Marsudi concluded that it was important that Indonesia's contribution to peace building included strengthening the post-conflict civilian institution and creating a conducive environment for inclusive and equitable settlement to prevent the recurrence of conflicts.

        Meanwhile, Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the UN Dian Triansyah Djani remarked that the main challenge in maintaining peace was to ensure that countries liberated from conflict continue to maintain peace.

         "What we are talking now is how to change the mindset from peacekeeping to peace building," Djani affirmed.

        Under a UN mandate, the Peace Building Commission has been formed as an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda.

         In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly had adopted through a consensus Resolution A/66/255 on "Civilian Capacity in the Aftermath of Conflict" that was proposed by Indonesia and Canada as the co-chairs for the Consultative Group of Civilian Capacity Review.

         At the regional level, with the support of the UN, Indonesia and Norway had co-hosted the first Regional Consultation on "Strengthening Partnership for Civilian Capacity in the Aftermath of Conflict" in Bali in March 2012.

         Under "Vision 4,000 Peacekeepers," the Government of the Republic of Indonesia is also currently undertaking efforts to develop a national mechanism for the deployment of Indonesian civilian experts to UN peacekeeping, peace building, as well as Special Political Missions.

         Indonesia had rendered its constructive and unwavering support to the 2015 review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture.

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(F001/INE)
EDITED BY INE/H-YH

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 31-10-2017