Indonesia calls for UN safety evaluation after peacekeeper deaths
This was emphasized by Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono on Sunday following the recent deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) mission in Lebanon.
“We are striving to ensure that our peacekeepers remain healthy and safe as they carry out the duties entrusted to them,” he said at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday.
The Indonesian government expressed its deepest condolences following the death of the three Indonesian peacekeepers: Major (posthumous) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Chief Sergeant (posthumous) Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Second Corporal (posthumous) Farizal Rhomadhon.
In addition to the three fatalities, the minister revealed that three other personnel sustained injuries during the mission.
“Last night, I also received a report that three Indonesian Armed Forces personnel were injured,” Sugiono stated while noting the cause is still being investigated.
Following the incident, the Indonesian government called on the UN Security Council to convene a meeting to address the safety of personnel.
Sugiono noted that the request was approved by France, which serves as the penholder for Lebanon issues at the Security Council.
“In essence, first, we strongly condemn the attacks against peacekeepers, specifically those within UNIFIL. Furthermore, we demand a thorough investigation because this is a peacekeeping mission,” he stressed.
The minister noted that attacks on peacekeepers are unjustifiable and underscored the critical importance of safety guarantees for all personnel.
“They are peacekeeping, not peacemaking, and are not equipped with peacemaking capability,” Sugiono explained regarding the nature of their deployment.
He added that the equipment and training provided to these troops are specifically intended for maintaining peace rather than engaging in combat.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Raka Adji