Ex-ICRC representative in Indonesia dies
Ex-ICRC representative in Indonesia dies
JAKARTA (JP): Cedric Neukomm, a senior official of the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) who worked in Indonesia in the late 1970s, died on Dec. 5 of heart failure. His last position was chief delegate of the ICRC in Pakistan.
Neukomm was the first ICRC delegate in Indonesia to help 120,000 East Timorese return from the hills after being held hostage by Fretilin in mid 1979.
At least 15,000 lives, including babies and children, were saved by ICRC humanitarian operations during the three years Neukomm was in charge in Indonesia.
He started the continuing family reunion program for East Timorese with Portugal and Australia. He also oversaw cases involving ex-Portuguese civil servants. ICRC visits to political prisoners were also begun and negotiated by him with the Indonesian military and civilian authorities.
"Cedric was not only efficient, but undertook the task with great understanding and compassion for Timorese victims as well as for the complex and delicate political and security situation resulting from the civil war and conflict," Jusuf Wanandi, the chairman of the supervisory board of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, recalled.
"Since the beginning of his stay in Indonesia, Cedric came to love Indonesia and has many close and personal friends. He loved Bali very much and always tried to find excuses to be able to visit the beautiful island as frequently as possible during his years in Geneva, even when he was ICRC chief in Pakistan in the last few years. In fact, he had planned to be in Bali at the end of December.
"Because of his warm personality, friendliness and integrity, as well as his dedication and pragmatism to the ICRC mission, he contributed to the understanding and appreciation of Indonesian leaders on what ICRC stands for and the partnership that ICRC offers in promoting humanitarian objectives in the country," Jusuf said.
"We lost a friend, Cedric. But the legacy of his love for Indonesia and concern that Indonesia would live up to its humanitarian ideals, as embodied in Pancasila, will last forever," Jusuf concluded.