One Indonesian Peacekeeper Dies of Wounds from Israeli Tank
Jakarta. An Indonesian peacekeeper had died of the wounds suffered in a blast linked to Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, the government announced on Friday.
The blue helmet in question was Chief Private Rico Pramudia. His death meant that Indonesia had lost four of its peacekeepers since the start of the most recent war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
In a social media post, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry wrote that Rico had sustained severe injuries "from an artillery explosion by an Israeli tank" near Adchit Al Qusayr on March 29. Rico, who was serving the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), had received medical treatment since then.
“Due to the severity of his injuries, he [Rico] passed away despite all efforts to save his life. The Government of Indonesia extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” the statement reads.
Jakarta is working with the UNIFIL to ensure a “prompt” repatriation to be carried out “with full dignity”.
“Indonesia once again condemns the attack by Israel that resulted in the death of an Indonesian peacekeeper,” the statement also reads.
“Any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law and may amount to a war crime.”
Southeast Asia's biggest economy also urged an immediate and transparent UN probe into the fatal attacks.
The March 29 episode saw the first Indonesian death in the Israel-Hezbollah clashes. The 27-year-old corporal Farizal Romadhon died immediately. Two other Indonesian UNIFIL personnel -- Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and Muhammad Nur Ichwan -- lost their lives when an explosion destroyed their convoy vehicle. A preliminary UN finding blamed the March 30 incident on an improvised explosive device “most likely placed by Hezbollah”.
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix admitted that he was “disheartened” by what had happened to Rico, whom he described as a “courageous UNIFIL peacekeeper”.
“My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and to the Indonesian army and government,” Lacroix said.
As of March 30, Indonesia is the top contributor to the UNIFIL mission with 755 blue helmets on duty.
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