SBY Complains About Lack of Language Skills Among Law Enforcers
8 April 2014 15:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that many Indonesian army officers lack the skills for peacekeeping missions, particularly language skills, causing Indonesia to fail its international responsibilities.
As an example, SBY said that a joint battalion between the police and the army was forced to return to Indonesia after failing the language test during a deployment to Bosnia in 1995-1996.
SBY said on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, that a new training center would help to improve language proficiency among military personnel. The Language Training Center at the Center of Peace and Security in Indonesia (IPSC) will provide disaster response, language and anti-terrorism training.
The president said that the lack of training can also be seen when Indonesia did not have adequately-trained troops to serve in Lebanon after promising to help with the peacekeeping effort in the country.
"Indonesia, at that time, volunteered. However, we came unprepared. With this training center, we will be highly prepared," the president said.
The IPSC will also train army personnel and police officers in disaster responses in Indonesia.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS
