TNI Assures Safety of Duties in UNIFIL During Visit to Personnel in Lebanon
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Commander of the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Centre, Major General TNI Iwan Bambang Setiawan, has reaffirmed his commitment to continuously ensuring the protection and safety of Indonesian Republic personnel serving as United Nations (UN) peacekeepers.
This was stated by the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Centre Commander during a visit to peacekeepers from the Yonmek TNI Konga XXIII-S Task Force who are being treated at St. George Hospital in Beirut, after becoming victims of an attack while on duty with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
“Indonesia is committed to continuously providing protection to all personnel and actively contributing to global peacekeeping efforts through the deployment of Garuda Contingent troops,” said Major General Iwan, according to a written statement from the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Indonesia, confirmed on Sunday.
The visit took place on Saturday (4/4) local time, during which Major General Iwan visited three personnel still under treatment: Captain Inf Sulthan Wirdean Maulana, Private First Class Rico Pramudia, and Private First Class Deni Rianto.
He also offered moral support and prayers to the personnel for a speedy recovery from their injuries.
The presence of Major General Iwan directly meeting the peacekeepers is an effort by the state, particularly TNI leadership, to realise its commitment to always being present and providing attention to soldiers serving in mission areas.
In addition to the three TNI personnel visited by the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Centre Commander on Saturday, two other soldiers were also injured in a security incident while on duty under UNIFIL last week: Private First Class Bayu Prakoso and Private First Class Arif Kurniawan.
Indonesia has lost three TNI soldiers in Lebanon: Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon, who died from artillery fire on Sunday (29/3), followed by Captain Inf Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and Sergeant Major Muhammad Nur Ikhwan, who fell when the convoy they were escorting was attacked on Monday (30/3).
The Indonesian government has strongly condemned the attacks on UNIFIL personnel and urged a thorough investigation. Indonesia has also called for an extraordinary session of the UN Security Council regarding the incident.