TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The fifth Indonesian policy-military contingent in the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has received a medal of appreciation from the UN, as reported by ANTARA News from Cairo, Egypt.
The medal was received on Tuesday by the POLRI-TNI contingent, presented to the soldiers for their professionalism and discipline in carrying out its task, according to a press statement from the Indonesian embassy in Khartoum.
The Indonesian contingent consists of 140 police personnel (Formed Police Unit/FPU), 14 police advisers, including two women police officers and eight military observers (TNI).
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, represented by Brigadier General Andriana Paneras at the presentation ceremony, thanked the Indonesian government, especially the FPU-5 contingent, for its success in carrying out its mission while achieving the best record.
Representing Indonesia's national police chief, Brigadier General Sabar Rahardjo expressed his pride and appreciation to the FPU-V for seriously carrying out its mandate.
Indonesian ambassador to Sudan Sujatmiko also expressed his thanks to the contingent. "Evidence of UNAMID's recognition of the Indonesian contingents performance is its request for another FPU contingent from the country, consisting of 140 police personnel, 37 police advisers and a battalion of 800 TNI members for West Darfur, and three helicopter task forces (120 TNI members) now in the process of departure," he said.
Deputy Joint Special Representative Joseph Mutaboba, representing UNAMID, praised the Garuda Indonesia contingent's role in creating a conducive atmosphere in the region.
Since the civil war in Darfur in 2003 and deployment of UNAMID forces in 2007, Indonesia has sent Garuda Polri contingents for FPU-1 in 2009 to FPU-5 in 2013.
Some 200 invitees attended the medal presentation ceremony, including UNAMID top officials and officials from the Sudanese government and North Darfur regional government, as well as local community figures.
The guests were served Indonesian foods and entertained with cultural and art performances. (*)
