Contingent of 800 Indonesian Peacekeeping Personnel Leave for Darfur

Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo shaking hands with a soldier who will serve in the UN mission to Darfur

Jakarta, 15 Jumadil Akhir 1437/25 March 2016 (MINA) – The Indonesia Armed Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo bid farewell to the 800-strong Garuda Contingent XXXV-B here on Wednesday to join the United Nations (UN) Mission in Darfur (Unamid) as the peacekeeping force.

Lieutenant Colonel Singgih Pambudi Arinto, who is commander of the Tarakan District Military Command, will lead the 800 Indonesian peacekeeping soldiers who will be assigned in Darfur, Sudan, the TNI information service noted in a press statement released on Thursday.

The soldiers belong to the composite battalion task force of Garuda Contingent XXXV-B will be the second TNI task force mission to be designated as the UN peacekeeping force in Darfur for a year to replace the Garuda Contingent XXXV-A.

Meanwhile, the tactical vehicles used to support the activities of the task force in Darfur will comprise 24 Anoa armored vehicles, 30 trucks, and 34 jeeps.

The composite battalion task force will implement the mandate of the peacekeeping force in accordance with UN Resolution No.1769 of 2007.

While performing their duties, the 800 soldiers will be accommodated in two UN camps.

TNI Chief General Nurmantyo stated that the soldiers were chosen among those units, which have successfully accomplished their operational duties.

“You are among the best soldiers who have been groomed, trained, and equipped with knowledge to perform the UN international missions tasks,” he added. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)