Third TNI contingent leaves for Lebanon

A company of Indonesian military police personnel left Thursday for Lebanon to serve under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The Indonesian Military (TNI) chief of staff for general affairs Vice Adm. Y. Heru Didik Purnomo led a ceremony at the Military Police Training Center in Cimahi, West Java.

The Garuda XXV-A contingent consists of 75 personnel and led by Lt. Col. Ujang Martenis. There are 11 personnel from the TNI headquarters, 30 from the Army military police, 20 from the Navy military police and 14 from the Air Force military police.

There are also four personnel from the TNI Women's Corps: one from the Army Women's Corps, two from Navy Women's Corps and one from Air Force Women's Corps.

The contingent spokesman, First Lt. M. Soleh said the contingent had undergone a one-month training prior to their deployment.

The training included traffic control, regulation and disciple enforcement patrol, and investigating non-criminal and suspected criminal events, escort procedures as well as basic military skills such as shooting, self defense and territorial control.

The deployment of the Garuda XXV-A contingent was the result of a discussion between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora at the sidelines of the 11th summit of the Organization of Islamic Conferences in Dakar held in March.

Indonesia has sent two battalions to serve under UNIFIL. The Garuda XXIII-A contingent has returned home and is replaced by the Garuda XXIII-B contingent. (****)