Ex-ICRC representative in Indonesia dies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Cedric Neukomm, a senior official of the
\nInternational Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) who worked in
\nIndonesia in the late 1970s, died on Dec. 5 of heart failure. His
\nlast position was chief delegate of the ICRC in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Neukomm was the first ICRC delegate in Indonesia to help
\n120,000 East Timorese return from the hills after being held
\nhostage by Fretilin in mid 1979.<\/p>\n
At least 15,000 lives, including babies and children, were
\nsaved by ICRC humanitarian operations during the three years
\nNeukomm was in charge in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He started the continuing family reunion program for East
\nTimorese with Portugal and Australia. He also oversaw cases
\ninvolving ex-Portuguese civil servants. ICRC visits to political
\nprisoners were also begun and negotiated by him with the
\nIndonesian military and civilian authorities.<\/p>\n
\"Cedric was not only efficient, but undertook the task with
\ngreat understanding and compassion for Timorese victims as well
\nas for the complex and delicate political and security situation
\nresulting from the civil war and conflict,\" Jusuf Wanandi, the
\nchairman of the supervisory board of the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies, recalled.<\/p>\n
\"Since the beginning of his stay in Indonesia, Cedric came to
\nlove Indonesia and has many close and personal friends. He loved
\nBali very much and always tried to find excuses to be able to
\nvisit the beautiful island as frequently as possible during his
\nyears in Geneva, even when he was ICRC chief in Pakistan in the
\nlast few years. In fact, he had planned to be in Bali at the end
\nof December.<\/p>\n
\"Because of his warm personality, friendliness and integrity,
\nas well as his dedication and pragmatism to the ICRC mission, he
\ncontributed to the understanding and appreciation of Indonesian
\nleaders on what ICRC stands for and the partnership that ICRC
\noffers in promoting humanitarian objectives in the country,\"
\nJusuf said.<\/p>\n
\"We lost a friend, Cedric. But the legacy of his love for
\nIndonesia and concern that Indonesia would live up to its
\nhumanitarian ideals, as embodied in Pancasila, will last
\nforever,\" Jusuf concluded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-icrc-representative-in-indonesia-dies-1447893297",
"image": ""
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