Condolences for Fallen TNI Soldiers: Thousands Join Protest in Front of US Embassy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Thousands of residents held a protest in front of the United States Embassy for Indonesia in Central Jakarta on Sunday morning, as a condolence for the three TNI personnel who fell in southern Lebanon while carrying out the UN peacekeeping mission. ANTA’s observation at the location at 08.30 WIB showed that the protest crowd, initiated by the Majelis Ormas Islam (MOI), filled the area of Jalan Merdeka Selatan heading west. The crowd even spilled over to the Monas gate near Gambir Station. Some of them were seen carrying babies and young children in the protest. The protest crowd, titled “Berjuta Doa untuk Syuhuda,” wore garments mostly in white with Indonesian and Palestinian attributes. Across from the US Embassy, right next to the concrete barricade, an oration stage stood about two metres high. On the background of the stage, images of the three fallen TNI soldiers were displayed. The three soldiers who fell in the mission were Major Inf (Posthumous) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Sgt Maj (Posthumous) M. Nur Ichwan, and Cpl (Posthumous) Farizal Rhomadhon, who were part of Indonesia’s peacekeeping contingent serving under the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) banner. In addition to joint prayers for the three soldiers, the protest also voiced several issues, including the independence of Palestine. The protest crowd also joined in singing songs related to the protest theme. While the songs were sung, Palestinian flags were waved by the protest crowd. Until 08.45 WIB, the protest crowd continued to arrive. Some only stepped away briefly to get food, then returned to join the other protest crowds.