Mother Recounts Praka Farizal's Encounter with Emergency in Lebanon
Supinah, the mother of Praka Farizal Rhomadhon, revealed the situation faced by her son while serving as a peacekeeper in Lebanon.
Praka Farizal was killed in an Israeli attack on the UNIFIL peacekeeping post in Lebanon. The attack by Zionist forces occurred near Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday (29/3) local time.
Supinah recounted that she and her son, who had been stationed in Lebanon for the past year, conducted video calls every day. The same applied to his wife and child, who are now in Aceh.
“Yes, every day (video call), at night here (Indonesia), daytime there (Lebanon), daily video calls, with me, with his father, then connected to his wife in Aceh,” said Supinah at the mourning house in Ledok, Lendah, Kulon Progo, DIY, on Tuesday (31/3).
However, according to Supinah, her son reported that conditions at his duty station had recently been accompanied by frequent siren wails indicating emergency situations.
“Lately, it’s been a bit emergency, entering the bunker at any time, for several hours, then coming out when safe. He said when the siren sounds, they must enter, and it’s happening all the time,” she explained.
In fact, according to Supinah, Farizal was scheduled to complete his duty in Lebanon and fly back to Indonesia at the end of April. The late soldier had even shown her his return schedule.
“End of April finished, then May return, there’s already a flight schedule, I’ve been sent it, the schedule. Basically in May, as they’re divided into groups,” she said.
Now, Supinah and her family are still awaiting the latest news regarding the repatriation of Praka Farizal’s body. Upon arrival, the body will be buried in a public cemetery complex in Ledok.
“Closer, so (buried) near his grandfather’s (grave), family,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Commander of Kodim 0731/Kulon Progo, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Dyan Niti Sukma, stated that Praka Farizal Rhomadhon’s body might arrive in Indonesia on Wednesday (1/4).
Dyan explained that they are still communicating with the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Centre (PMPP) regarding the repatriation plans for Praka Farizal’s body.
“So currently, it’s still in the waiting stage. Insyaallah, hopefully the day after tomorrow it will arrive in Indonesia, but we will continue to monitor the repatriation,” said Dyan when met at Praka Farizal’s mourning house in Ledok, Lendah, Kulon Progo, DIY, on Monday (30/4) evening.
The Kodim Commander said that for the repatriation procedure of the late soldier’s body, the TNI PMPP could provide more detailed answers. He estimated that the process is currently focused on the administrative stage.
The news of this TNI member’s death was previously confirmed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The attack by Israeli forces occurred near Adchit Al Qusayr.
In his official X social media account, Guterres expressed strong condemnation of the attack that killed one TNI personnel attached to UNIFIL.
UNIFIL has demanded an immediate investigation into the incident. In its official release, they stated that an unidentified projectile exploded near their headquarters in Adchit Al Qusayr. Authorities currently do not know the origin of the projectile.
UNIFIL urges all parties to comply with international law and ensure the security and safety of all UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.