Poll: Dutch military should not be engaged in armed conflicts abroad
| | News | 15 January 2004 |
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A majority of the population in The Netherlands says Dutch military should not be engaged in armed conflicts abroad.
This is the outcome of a survey released by a national radio station today.
Seventy percent of the respondents says Dutch military should not fight in the front lines of armed conflicts abroad, whereas sixty percent of those participating in the poll says troops should only be involved in humanitarian operations.
 The outcome of the poll disagrees with the opinion of the Dutch Minister of Defence, Henk Kamp. As became apparent in October last year, Mr Kamp leans to the view that the armed forces should be deployed more often in front line operations abroad, engaging special forces and mobile, air-lifted units in actual combat situations.
Japanese visit to The Hague
The survey was held just at the time when Mr Kamp received his colleague from Japan, Mr Shigeru Ishiba, to discuss developments in South Iraq, where Japanese troops will soon join the Dutch stationed in the province of Al-Muthanna.
During a press conference held in The Hague yesterday, Mr Ishiba explained that Japanese troops may only provide humanitarian services, as they are bound by law to refrain from any use of violence, except to defend themselves or civilians under their custody. Thus, in the event that Dutch troops would come under fire, Mr Ishiba reconfirmed, “they cannot rely on the Japanese [to intervene]".
Commenting on the Japanese position, Mr Kamp said that he appreciated the contribution of Japan to the reconstruction effort in Iraq, adding that "under any circumstances the Dutch troops do not depend on Japanese support"
Published on 15 January 2004 by RISQ
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