Surabaya, E.Java (Antara) - The Indonesian Eastern Region Fleet Command prepares the Sultan Iskandar Muda-376 ship to take part in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Force for the UN Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force in 2015. Head of Information Office Marine Lt. Col. Abdul Kadir stated here on Monday that the Sultan Iskandar Muda ship's departure in 2015 will be the seventh time for the Indonesian Army Task Force of the Garuda Contingent XXVIII-G/UNIFIL to participate in the peacekeeping mission. "The preparation of the warship has been reviewed by Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Didit Herdiawan and Commander of the Eastern Fleet Vice Admiral Sri Mohamad Darojatim on Wednesday (Sept. 17)," he stated. The Sultan Iskandar Muda warship, which is commanded by Marine Lt. Col. IGP Alit Jaya, will replace the Frans Kasiepo-368 warship that has been serving the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon since March 2014. The duty will be the second assignment for Sultan Iskandar Muda after the first task undertaken in 2011. According to Lt. Col. Abdul Kadir, various technical preparations are underway to ready the warship, which include those relating to the ship platform, marine systems, electricity, auxiliary motor, SEWACO (Sensors, Weapon, Control, and Command), and other ship components, among several others. "The Eastern Region Fleet Command is carrying out the necessary technical preparations, so that the ship can operate properly and optimally during its duty in Lebanon," Abdul Kadir noted. He explained that the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon established the UNIFIL MTF 448 marine sector on October 15, 2006, based on the UN Security Council's Resolution Number 1701 on the authority and additional troops in Lebanon. At first, the assignment was carried out by the European countries, especially the members of NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization). The main task is conducting surveillance and prevention missions at sea and providing assistance to the Lebanese Navy in preventing the smuggling of weapons or weapons-related materials from the sea to land or vice versa. Later, in 2009, at the request of the Lebanese government and the approval of the UN Security Council, Indonesia was requested to join the peacekeeping force. In the first assignment, Indonesia sent the Maritime Task Force of the Garuda Contingent XXVIII-A/UNIFIL and Diponegoro-365 ship, followed by Frans Kasiepo-368 ship in 2010. In 2011, Sultan Iskandar Muda-367 ship was in charge, followed by Sultan Hasanuddin-366 in 2012, Diponegoro in 2013, and finally, Frans Kasiepo ship was again assigned in March 2014. (*)

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Editor : Didik Kusbiantoro


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