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em>Indonesia’s regular contribution of troops to UN peacekeeping missions has been hailed by many as a remarkable expression of international solidarity with peace and security. The government aims to double the number of its peacekeepers and has pledged to send three helicopters. The Jakarta Post’ s Novan Iman Santosa and Yohanna Ririhena talked with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous, during his recent visit to Jakarta.

Question: What is the current status of UN peacekeeping operations?

Answer: Right now we have 15 peacekeeping missions plus one which is not a peacekeeping mission, in Afghanistan. There are 121,000 personnel deployed, consisting of 90,000 military, 15,000 police and the rest is civilian staff.

Several of our missions have been reviewed in the last few months. We concluded that we’ll be downsizing some of them: in Haiti, where we are returning to the pre-earthquake level; in some African missions; in Timor Leste, where the peacekeeping mission will be over at the end of this year. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be any UN presence. There will be a different presence, not peacekeeping operations but a political mission, and of course the UN country team.

There is not so much pressure to find troops for any corps, meaning we can be more selective; instead of quantity we emphasize quality. And it is very timely that Indonesia wants to increase its presence because over the years we have found Indonesian peacekeepers, both military and police, very solid. They are very professional, very well-trained, well-equipped and disciplined, their conduct is good.

You have just revealed a plan to downsize, will Indonesia’s doubling of its commitment be redundant?

No, as I said we are going to increase quality. Some of the troops we have so far, are not very well-prepared, not well-equipped, don’t totally fit our standard. Now we have established basic standards for peacekeeping in three areas: infantry battalions, medical units and field-staff officers.

Are there any details or talks with the Indonesian government on where and when the three helicopters will be deployed?

I have had several discussions with Indonesian high officials. I can’t give all the details because it has not been agreed yet. As you may know, we lack 44 military helicopters throughout the missions. Since many countries have most of their machines in Afghanistan, for the time being it is difficult to find military helicopters. We can find civilian helicopters but not helicopters that can work in operations; transporting troops, weapons, ammunition, medical evacuations, etc.

How can Indonesia participate more in civilian peacekeeping?

Well, we constantly need policemen and policewomen. So far, we have 3 percent of women in the military, 9 percent in police. For police in particular we have set a target of having 20 percent UN policewomen in the next couple of years.

Besides, we also need civilian professionals. In the last 10 to 15 years peacekeeping has become multidimensional. It is considered one phase in the peace-building process. As security improves and peace comes, you have to build many things. We sometimes have to rebuild a society after emerging from 10 to 20 years of civil war. That is the case with Liberia, Sudan and Haiti. We have seen it in Timor Leste and South Sudan. We have to build up state institutions and create a rule of law. So, it has to do increasingly with having legal and criminal specialists: lawyers, judges, prison officers who can do the job alongside the local authority.

It becomes a question of developing capabilities for self management. In this phase, it is more peace-building than peacekeeping. So, it is a continuous process. Therefore, it is very important that we have tough and competent people. We know that we can find them here.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the Indonesian Peacekeeping Center, do you have any feedback or comment on what needs to be improved?

It is impressive and is evidently a top-level, high-standard facility. We knew already that Indonesian peacekeepers were well-prepared. This will make them even better prepared.

Other countries have set up similar centers. The idea is how to make all these peacekeeping training centers work, with special emphases. I know that Indonesia emphasizes the gender issue. It is important because in many crises we have to resolve women’s issues. Women are often very much victims. They can also play a reconciliation role in a peace process.

The center is very professional and promising.