The Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) is studying the possibility of sending troops to Darfur in western Sudan to help create stability and security in the region, ANTARA quoted a spokesman as saying. "Whether or not we wlll send troops (to Sudan) is a question we still need to study further because it requires funds and personnel," Air Commodore Imam Sufaat, assistant to the TNI deputy general chief of staff for operations, said here, yerterday. Sufaat made the statement when witnesssing the despatch of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s assistance consisting of such things as laptops, stationery supplies and other things for the Indonesian contingent in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon. The goods were transported by a Hercules C=130 of the Indonesian Air Force`s Abdurrahman Sale Squadron 32 in Jakarta on Saturday. On the occasion, Iman Sufaat also said around 850 fresh TNI personnel were being prepared to replace the troops currently serving in Lebanon. The replacement would leave for Lebnon in November this year. Earlier, on Thursday, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said in Manila, the Philippines, that Indonesia was considering sending a peace-keeping force to Darfur to help maintain security in the region. "Indonesia is considereing sending a peace-keeping force to Darfur," Wirayuda said at the closing of the 40th Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) Thursday. Wirayuda said Indonesia might send around 100 to 150 civilian police to the region. The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to deploy 26,000 soldiers and police in Darfur to protect local civilians and stop the violence in the vast and arid western part of Sudan. Joint UN and African Union peacekeeping operations in the area would cost more that US$2 billion in the first year.
