EU expresses condolences over the deaths of Indonesian peacekeepers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The European Union (EU) has expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the Indonesian peacekeepers who perished, to the Republic of Indonesia, and to all parties affected by this tragic loss. “We echo the statement of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General condemning the recent incident that resulted in the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” quoted an official EU statement in Jakarta on Thursday. The European Union emphasised that, under international law, the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed at all times. On 29 March, an Indonesian member of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, Sergeant Farizal Rhomadhon, was killed by artillery fire near the position of the Indonesian UNIFIL contingent in the vicinity of Adchit Qusayr, southern Lebanon. The following day, two other Indonesian UNIFIL members, Captain (Inf) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and Staff Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, were killed in an attack on a UNIFIL logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan, southern Lebanon. Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Umar Hadi, on Tuesday (31/3), demanded a swift, thorough, and transparent UN investigation into the Israeli attack in southern Lebanon that killed the three Indonesian soldiers. Indonesia also requested that the Security Council monitor and firmly follow up on the investigation results, and demanded legal accountability for the perpetrators without granting immunity in the case of the attack on the peacekeeping force. Indonesia further urged all parties, including Israel, to halt aggressions and comply with international law to ensure the safety of personnel and the protection of United Nations assets. On Wednesday (1/4), the UN confirmed that the investigation into the attack that caused the deaths of the three Indonesian personnel in UNIFIL is underway and that the results could be announced soon. UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasised that attacks on the UNIFIL peacekeeping force are unacceptable and must be held accountable. Although the investigators’ efforts to reach the incident site were somewhat hindered by the need to de-escalate tensions with the relevant parties, Dujarric assured that the UN remains committed to obtaining the true facts regarding the incident. In addition, Dujarric conveyed that the UN Deputy Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, emphasised that his office continues to monitor the situation on the ground to ensure the safety and security of personnel.