Peacekeeping adds to S'pore's security says PM Lee

SINGAPORE has been sending more officers for international peacekeeping efforts.

Past reports show that Singapore's first peacekeeping mission in 1989 saw 48 police officers deployed in Namibia.


Since then, nearly 450 policemen have been sent for overseas missions - mainly United Nations efforts.

This is in tandem with a global trend: In 2005, 6,000 UN peacekeeping police officers were deployed.

But in three months' time, that number will rise to 15,000, said the UN.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first Interpol-UN Ministerial Meeting and the 78th Interpol General Assembly in Singapore yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore takes its peacekeeping duties seriously, and pointed out the growing need for policemen in peacekeeping.

He said that while military forces are crucial in establishing initial security, civilian police forces are more suited for law-and-order tasks, and for maintaining security.

He also noted that states in disorder can become breeding grounds for international terrorism or bases for transnational criminal organisations.

"When we commit police peacekeepers to rebuild failed states, promote good governance and foster sustainable peace, we are also contributing to our own security," he said.

In August, the UN said that it was aiming to increase the proportion of women in its police forces from 8 per cent now to 20 per cent by 2014.

This is because women and children tend to be more comfortable cooperating with female officers.

Singapore has also been sending female police officers for UN peacekeeping missions since 1998.

One of them, Assistant Superintendent Irene Ang, was posted to Timor Leste in 2007 for a year.

She had assisted in investigations, such as helping take statements from women who were suspected victims of sex trafficking into Timor Leste.

This was easier for her than her male counterparts as the women were more at ease speaking to female officers, she said.

"Children and women are also more willing to come forward to report cases (of abuse to female officers), so we hope to see more cases reported and to see justice (being served)," said ASP Ang.

kennyc@sph.com.sg