JAKARTA: Indonesia’s call for an emergency United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting over the deadly attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon has been approved, as it pushes for condemnation and accountability over the incident.
According to ANTARA News Agency, Foreign Minister Sugiono said France, as the UNSC penholder on Lebanon, had endorsed the request, with the meeting expected to issue a strong condemnation of the attack on peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
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Sugiono said the request was conveyed through Indonesia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York a day after the first incident, underscoring Jakarta’s swift diplomatic response.
He said Indonesia strongly condemns all attacks against United Nations peacekeeping personnel and facilities.
“We strongly condemn the attack carried out against peacekeepers, in this case UNIFIL. Then we also demand that a thorough investigation be conducted,” he stressed.
The request followed the deaths of three Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel serving under the UNIFIL mission, with five others injured in the incidents.
On April 3, three more Indonesian peacekeepers were injured in an explosion in El Addaiseh, southern Lebanon.
Sugiono said the call for a comprehensive investigation was aimed at establishing clarity over the cause of the incident and identifying those responsible, stressing that the safety of international personnel must be a top priority.
Earlier, the remains of the three fallen TNI personnel, which arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 5.30 pm local time on Saturday, were later flown to their hometowns in Cimahi, Magelang and Kulon Progo aboard military aircraft.
President Prabowo Subianto paid his final respects to the three fallen soldiers. The ceremony was led by Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen Maruli Simanjuntak. Also present was former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
-- BERNAMA
