Indonesian Navy And Diaspora Soldiers Celebrate Christmas At KRI Frans Kaisiepo

Indonesian Navy soldiers celebrate Christmas Eve with the diaspora and Indonesian citizens in Beirut, Lebanon (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Navy soldiers who are members of the United Nations (UNIFIL) peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) celebrate Christmas with Indonesian citizens in Beirut and the Indonesian diaspora on the deck of KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368.

During the celebration, the soldiers together with Indonesian citizens in Beirut and the Indonesian diaspora prayed together, friendly, karaoke, and evening eating.

"I feel touched and proud because for the first time we can celebrate Christmas Together in 2023 aboard our joint proud warship even in a security situation in Lebanon that is still not conducive," said the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Lebanon Hajriyanto Y. Thohari during the event (24/12) as quoted from Antara, Tuesday.

Ambassador Hajriyanto, who was present at the event as an honorary guest, also enjoyed entertainment and presentations and lectures with KRI comedy soldiers Frans Kaisiepo during Christmas Eve celebrations.

At the same location, Commander of the TNI MTF Task Force Garuda XXVIII-N/ UNIFIL Lt. Col. Laut (P) John David Narasaakti Sondakh hopes that the Christmas Eve celebration on the deck of KRI Frans Kaisiepo can encourage soldiers who are currently far from their families.

"May this year's peace and joy always be with us all," said the Commander of the MTF Task Force.

The Indonesian government regularly sends its peacekeepers to serve with the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force Task Force in Lebanon.

The MTF Task Force in Lebanon is tasked with maintaining peace along the Lebanese and Israeli borders along with other task forces, including the TNI Mechanized Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), the TNI Headquarters/Force Headquarters Supporter Task Force (FHQSU), the Indo Force Protection Company (FPC) Task Force, the Civil-Military Coordination Task Force / Civilian Military Coordination (CIMIC) TNI, the Military Community Outreach Unit (MCOU) Task Force, and the Level 2 Hospital Task Force.

Most TNI soldiers who are members of UNIFIL operate on land, while the MTF Task Force carries out its duties at sea.

Some of the tasks carried out by soldiers from the UNIFIL MTF Task Force include patrolling water areas, especially along the border, preventing the entry of weapons illegally, and holding training for Lebanese Navy soldiers.

In Lebanon as of October 26, 2023, the TNI Information Center said there were 1,229 soldiers who were members of various UNIFIL task forces.