UNIFIL holds memorial in Beirut for Indonesian peacekeeper killed in south Lebanon
The United Nations' UNIFIL peacekeeping force said it held a memorial in Beirut for an Indonesian peacekeeper who died on Friday after being wounded in a blast in south Lebanon last month.
A preliminary U.N. investigation found that an Israeli tank shell caused the explosion.
Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara honored the life and service of Corporal Rico Pramudia, 31 of Indonesia in the ceremony held in Beirut. Pramudia is the fourth Indonesian peacekeeper killed in south Lebanon in less than a month.
"You came here, far from home, to serve under the United Nations flag, to bring peace to this land, and here, in the south of Lebanon, you gave everything," said Major General Abagnara. "You gave everything you had for peace in this land. And for this, you have all our respect."
"As soldiers, as peacekeepers, we carry your mission forward; we will remain steady; we will remain united; we will remain vigilant," the UNIFIL head continued. "This is how we honor you. Your place remains with us, in our actions, in our commitment, in our sense of duty."
Corporal Pramudia is survived by his wife and young son. When he arrived in April last year to serve with UNIFIL, it was his first foreign mission.
Sunday’s ceremony at Beirut’s airport was also attended by Ambassador of Indonesia to Lebanon, Dicky Komar; representative of the Lebanese Ministry of National Defense and the Lebanese Army, Brigadier General Maroun Azzi; and Colonel Allan Surya Lesmana from UNIFIL’s Indonesian contingent.
"Attacks of peacekeepers constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701 and may amount to war crimes," UNIFIL said. "They must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be prosecuted and held accountable."
Source: Naharnet
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