THE UN MEDAL TO 1362 INDONESIAN OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS

The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Alberto Asarta, encouraged the concerned parties to support the peace that the UNIFIL was committed to implement on a long term, assuring to the people of the south that the UNIFIL is decided to give its best to provide peace and stability in the Lebanese south. He also mentioned that: “our role as peacekeepers is limited to the support of the peace that was approved by all the parties”, mentioning that the Lebanese Armed Forces and the UNIFIL had already accomplished an obvious development in implementing the principal points of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, but still ,many requirements that are needed to be done and the UNIFIL will try hard to oppose the challenges that will face it.

Asarta’s speech came on the occasion of mastering the distribution of UN medals of peace service, under Bam Ki moon, to 1326 Indonesian officer and soldier, in the Indonesian battalion, Adshit Al-Kusseir, as a symbol of appreciation to their great participation in implementing the UNIFIL mandate, under the presence of the Indonesian Charge d’Affaires in Beirut, Raden Ahmad Arif, the UNIFIL Sector East Commanding Officer, Brigadier General Jose Medina Fernandez, the Assistant of the LAF 9^th brigade Chief, Major General Gebrael, the Chief Liaison Section in UNIFIL, the French Colonel, Sinion, Commanding Officer of the Indonesian Contingent, Colonel Restu Widyantoro, Commanding officers of other Battalions, Liaison Officers of LAF, Mayors and Mokhtars of the area.

After the entrance of the VAB that carried the soldiers, where they formed up in rows in front of their Garuda, the anthems of UNIFIL, Lebanon and Indonesia were played, while the flags were raised.

The seven units of the Indonesian force performed their parade, and General Asarta, along with the charge d’affaires, Colonel Sinion, and Major General Gebrael gave the UN medal to the peacekeepers, where Asarta said: "I am honored to attach the medal to 1326 Indonesia peacekeepers, the medal of UN which is a symbol of appreciation of what you have deserved due to your efforts in keeping and enhancing peace and stability in the south of Lebanon”.

General Asarta who extended the deep greetings on the occasion of the 65^th anniversary of the Indonesian National Defense Forces, praised the role of the Indonesian Battalion serving in UNIFIL since 2006, where the Indonesian peacekeepers were great at executing all heir missions with professionalism and dedication in serving, were it the infantry, or the general support unit in the UN HQ, the UN MP in UNIFIL Sector East, the medical team, or even those serving in the HQ or Sector East, including all the practical activities of patrolling, static points along the blue line, and other hot spot areas.

Asarta mentioned that the support unit had played an important role in protecting the HQ building in Naqura, and equally, the Indonesian Military police played a great role in organizing the traffic in Sector East and keeping the discipline among the UNIFIL employees. Adding to those, many activities to enhance the relation between the UNIFIL and the locals through the CIMIC Unit, and where computer and language sessions were held, in addition to medical assistance and the special activity SMART CAR where they were able to share with the kids of the area many educational and entertaining activities.

In the end, there was a parade performed by the soldiers of the battalion in Sukarno Base, where later that day, General Asarta cut the cake, accompanied by Colonel Widyantoro, followed by a reception lunch.