Australian and Indonesian defence forces are conducting a desktop peacekeeping exercise – GARUDA KOOKABURRA – at the Indonesian National Defence Forces Peacekeeping Centre (TNI PMPP) in Sentul, Java. This inaugural exercise between the Australian Defence Force Peace Operations Training and the PMPP is taking place from 13 – 24 May 2013.
Both Australia and Indonesia have proud histories of contributing to multilateral peacekeeping operations and, over the past 50 years, military personnel from our two countries have served in a broad range of peacekeeping operations across the world, including most recently in Lebanon and Darfur.
Exercise GARUDA KOOKABURRA prepares Australian and Indonesian officers for future deployments on United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations. This exercise will consider scenarios that participants will discuss through a series of seminars, syndicate group workshops and practical activities.
Participants will take into account the full range of issues they are likely to encounter in a complex peacekeeping operation, including the protection of civilians, cultural awareness considerations and the hardships faced in such operations.
Exercise GARUDA KOOKABURRA builds on our existing cooperation in the field of peacekeeping training. Current cooperation includes Australian support for five Indonesian officers to participate in a United Nations Military Observers Course (UNMOC), conducted annually in Australia. An Indonesian instructor has previously supported Australian instructors in the delivery of UNMOC training overseas.
Australia also conducts an annual Law of Peace Operations course to introduce Australian and foreign military members, including representatives from Indonesia, to the legal framework for peace operations and United Nations mandates.
The next Exercise GARUDA KOOKABURRA will take place in 2015.