JAKARTA - Indonesia is confirmed to send UN peacekeepers under the flag of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), to fulfill the mandate of the Constitution and commitment to peace.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said that Indonesia will send 780 peacekeepers for the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon.
"On May 22, the plan is 780 people (TNI soldiers who will be sent to Lebanon)," said Foreign Minister Sugiono after a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/5).
Yesterday, Foreign Minister Sugiono attended a Coordination Meeting of the Peacekeeping Mission Coordination Team (TKMPP) at the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Center, Sentul.
"As one of the largest contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Mission, Indonesia continues to carry out the constitutional mandate and foreign policy of being free to actively support world peace, including through the assignment of the Garuda Contingent Task Force in UNIFIL (Lebanon)," wrote Foreign Minister Sugiono on the Menluri Instagram account.
"In the midst of uncertain regional and global dynamics, I emphasize that the state will always be present to ensure the safety and protection of Indonesian peacekeepers," he continued.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yvonne Mewengkang said that the deployment as part of the rotation of Indonesian troops serving in UNIFIL was a mandate of the Constitution and Indonesia's commitment to peace.
The four best Indonesian sons, Major Inf (Anm) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Serka (Anm) Nur Ichwan Kopda (Anm) Farizal Rhomadhon and Kopda (Anm) Rico Pramudia who are part of the Yonmek TNI Konga XXIII-S/UNIFIL Task Force, were killed in two separate incidents on March 29-30.
Kopda (Anm) Farizal was killed when a projectile exploded near a UNIFIL facility in Adchit Al Qusayr on January 29. In addition, three other TNI soldiers, Kopda (Anm) Rico, Praka Bayu Prakoso and Praka Arif Kurniawan were injured in the incident.
Later, Kopda (Anm) Rico was announced to have breathed his last due to his injuries after receiving treatment for almost a month.
On March 30, an explosion that hit a convoy of UNIFIL vehicles near Bani Hayyan killed Major (Anm) Zulmi and Serka (Anm) Nur Ichwan.
"We regret and condemn the incident for the first time. This (the deployment of UN peacekeepers) is our constitutional mandate, our commitment to peace remains the way," said Yvonne.
Foreign Minister Sugiono said the UN continued to investigate the death and injury of TNI soldiers who were carrying out a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
"We need accountability," he said, stressing that Indonesia continues to encourage accountability in handling the case.
Meanwhile, Yvonne said, in line with the results of the initial investigation, "Indonesia continues to urge the United Nations to conduct a thorough, comprehensive and transparent investigation."
"We will pursue it," he said, adding that the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York continues to communicate closely with the United Nations."
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