SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES CONTINGENT TO IRAQ

SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES CONTINGENT TO IRAQ: 1.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Defence (a) why, despite the

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risks involved, is Singapore committing 192 servicemen and women to Iraq; and (b) what roles will they play in the reconstruction effort.

2.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Defence what is the rationale for sending 192 Singapore Armed Forces soldiers and equipment to Iraq, considering the high risk involved.

The Minister for Defence (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I will take the two Questions by Ms Irene Ng and Mr Steve Chia together.

Mr Speaker: Yes, go ahead.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore has contributed a C-130 transport aircraft and a landing ship tank or LST to the multi-national effort to help rebuild Iraq. Our C-130 detachment, comprising 31 SAF servicemen, will be on a 2-month mission carrying out airlift, transportation and supply missions. Our aircraft will assist coalition forces in carrying supplies and personnel, and also carry humanitarian material and conduct medical evacuation operations. The LST, RSS Endurance, with a crew of 160, is on a 2-month mission undertaking logistical tasks. She will provide replenishment and supplies for other naval vessels operating in the northern Arabian Gulf, and conduct patrols to show maritime presence. RSS Endurance will also provide a platform for helicopter missions and maritime boarding missions by teams from other contributing countries when they inspect ships in the operating area. On her way to Iraq, RSS Endurance also transported humanitarian aid material provided by the Singapore Civil Defence Force to the Iraqi Fire Department.

The international community recognises that the reconstruction of Iraq is an important endeavour. Besides Singapore, some 35 other countries are

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deploying forces to make a contribution to the multi-national reconstruction effort. The importance of establishing conditions of stability and security in Iraq was also reflected in the unanimous vote for the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511 on 16th October 2003 which urged states to contribute assistance, including military forces. Resolution 1511 highlighted the importance of international support to help the Iraqi people govern themselves, freely determine their own political future, and control their own natural resources. Resolution 1511 also urged countries to support the Iraq reconstruction effort and meet the needs of the Iraqi people by providing resources necessary for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq's economic infrastructure.

As a responsible member of the international community, Singapore has made contributions to the multi-national effort to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq. The C-130 and the LST follow on an earlier contribution of a Singapore Police Force contingent of 32 personnel to help train Iraqi police in the protection of critical installations. The people of Singapore have also responded to the need of the Iraqi people for international assistance by contributing to the Singapore Red Cross Society's appeal for funds for the reconstruction of Iraq. The appeal has now raised a total of $1.4 million, including a contribution of US$250,000 by the Singapore Government.

It is important that Singapore does our part within our means to help the international community see through the reconstruction of Iraq. This will help the Iraqi people to rebuild their lives, facilitate Iraq's reintegration into the global community, and provide the foundation for a better future for the Iraqi people. It is in our interest that this effort succeeds.

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Without a stable Iraq, there can be no stability in the Gulf region. Security and stability in the Gulf region has significant implications for issues that are critical to Singapore, such as the supply of oil and the spread of terrorism. We may be geographically distant from Iraq, but how the situation turns out there has a direct bearing on some of our most vital interests.

The Government recognises that the situation in Iraq is still in transition and not yet stabilised, and there will be risks to our SAF servicemen as they carry out their mission to aid Iraq's reconstruction. But the SAF cannot shy away from missions in support of our national interests and our responsibilities as a member of the international community just because the mission carries some risks.

We should also remember that this is not the first time that the SAF has been deployed in a multi-national support mission where our servicemen have faced danger. In UNMISET in Timor Leste, our combat peacekeepers and helicopter detachment were deployed in operational missions. During the one and a half years that the SAF was deployed in UNMISET, our servicemen were involved in a number of dangerous situations dealing with civil unrest and the militia. In 1998, an SAF officer who served as a military adviser in the UN Support Mission to Afghanistan, which was a peace-making mission, was caught in more than one life-threatening situation during the battle for Mazar-e-Sharif. Such missions, including the current one to Iraq, carry an element of risk. But they also allow the SAF to gain useful operational experience.

MINDEF and the SAF mitigate the risks in such missions by making sure that our servicemen are well trained and well equipped to carry out their mission, and to deal with contingencies that may arise. For the deployment to Iraq, our aircraft

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and ship are equipped with appropriate defensive systems. For instance, our C-130 is equipped with anti-missile defensive systems for self-protection. These systems are comparable to those of aircraft and ships from other countries which are carrying out similar missions there.

As a responsible member of the international community, Singapore has to make our contribution to multi-national missions, particularly where they safeguard our national interests. There are always risks involved in such missions, as in this deployment to Iraq. MINDEF and the SAF will ensure that our servicemen have the training and equipment necessary for them to carry out their missions, and to defend and protect themselves.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, the British Prime Minister had to go to Parliament to get approval before sending the British troops to Iraq. Yet, why did our Government and our Defence Minister not get the consent of our Parliament before committing the lives of our Singapore soldiers to this high risk in Iraq? What is the role of Parliament if not to debate on important issues like sending our young boys to the war zone where lives are at risk?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no requirement in the Constitution or any law in Singapore where Parliament's approval must be obtained before our Armed Forces can be deployed outside our national borders. At the same time, the Constitution allows Singapore to enter into any arrangement with another country or countries where such an arrangement is beneficial or advantageous to Singapore in any way.

The deployment of the SAF overseas is a matter that touches on the defence of Singapore as well as the conduct of our

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foreign relations and our larger national interests. These are matters that concern the governance of Singapore and are within the purview of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Under the Constitution, the Cabinet has the general direction and control of the Government and shall be collectively responsible to Parliament. On matters that are of great interest and concern to the people as a whole, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet will inform Parliament of its decisions and actions. The Government recognises that this deployment of the SAF to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq is a matter of interest to Singaporeans. Hence, we have this debate in Parliament.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines): Sir, I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister that we should not flinch from committing our troops, especially when it is in line with our national interests. But I want to ask the Minister whether he thinks the cause is justified in this case because, as we know, the weapons of mass destruction have not been found and the occupation of the US forces has provoked resistance and violence in some quarters by Iraqi groups.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I would just like to correct myself. What we are having now is a Question raised in Parliament on the issue, and not a debate.

Sir, whether the war in Iraq was authorised on the basis of a continuity of authority from 1990 to 2003 will no doubt be a matter of debate, probably continuing debate. I think the issue at hand now is what to do with the present situation in Iraq, and Singapore is not alone in feeling that countries should contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq. There are 35 other countries which are deploying forces to Iraq to help in the reconstruction and these include countries in the Asia-Pacific region such as Thailand which has 400 troops and the Philippines

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which has 177 men there. They also include some countries from the OIC - Albania, Azeberjian and Kazakhstan and also those which were not originally in the coalition for the disarmament of Iraq, such as New Zealand. And, as can be seen from Resolution 1511, which was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council, this resolution calls for countries to contribute forces to help in the reconstruction and stabilisation of Iraq.

Mdm Halimah Yacob (Jurong): Sir, if the situation worsens, bearing in mind that even the International Red Cross has closed its offices in Basra and Baghdad, can the Minister tell us what measures will be taken to ensure a speedy and effective repatriation of our servicemen out of Iraq?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, our servicemen are there to carry out a mission because the situation is uncertain and not stable. I expect that our servicemen should be there for the two-month duration that we said that they will be there.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, the Minister said that sending of our troops to Iraq is in the interest to Singapore. Can I ask him in what way is our sending of troops to Iraq, which he admits is a nation very far away from Singapore, in the interest of Singapore?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I believe I covered that in my answer. I will, for Mr Chiam's benefit, read that section again:

'It is important that Singapore does our part within our means to help the international community see through the reconstruction of Iraq. This will help the Iraqi people to rebuild their lives, facilitate Iraq's reintegration into the global community, and provide the foundation for a better future for the Iraqi people. It is in our interest that this effort succeeds. Without a

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stable Iraq, there can be no stability in the Gulf region. Security and stability in the Gulf region has significant implications for issues that are critical to Singapore, such as the supply of oil and the spread of terrorism. We may be geographically distant from Iraq, but how the situation turns out there has a direct bearing on some of our most vital interests.'

Mr Chiam See Tong: If this is the policy of Singapore, then Singapore should be sending troops to many other countries to make them stable which we can ill afford.

Mr Speaker: I think that is out of the realm of this Question, Mr Chiam. Can I have the next Question, Dr Chong?