Some 110 Indonesia`s Navymen to join UN in Lebanon

NBO105 (Photo: puspenerbal.mil.id)

January 20, 2009, Surabaya (East Java) -- Some 110 members of the Indonesian Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command (Koarmatim) will leave for Lebanon by the n warship KRI Diponegoro-365 early February 2009 to join the UN Peace Mission.

The Indonesian Navy would also send one helicopter to Lebanon.

The Navy personnel were currently undergoing a one-month training course, especially about the latest developments on Lebanon and Palestinian issues, Lt Col Toni Syaiful, a Koarmatim spokesman, said here on Tuesday.

"They get information on the situation (in Lebanon) and experience in joining the UN Peace Mission from various institutions such as the foreign affairs ministry, ICRC, UNHCR, Unicef, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and others. Hopefully, they will be fully ready for their task," he said.

The TNI`s sources speaking to the Navy`s members in the course include the Indonesian defense attache in Egypt, military officers of the Center for Maintaining Peace Mission (PMPP), the TNI and intelligence unit.

The PMPP`s military officers have experiences in international assignments. They share their experiences with Koarmatim`s naval officers on how to face situations in the field," he said.

The 110 naval officers among others consist of 88 crew members of KRI Diponegoro, 22 helicopter crew members, doctors, divers, amphibious soldiers, communication personnel, an information officer, and weaponry technicians. (ANTARANews.com)