TNI Chief Greets Returning Maritime Task Force

Jakarta (Antara) - National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief General Moeldoko greeted the returning maritime task force of the Garuda contingent XXVIII-E, which had joined the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), at the military sea-borne command pier in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta on Monday. As many as 100 personnel from the maritime task force returned home aboard the Indonesian warship KRI Diponegoro-365 after safeguarding the Lebanese waters under the aegis of the U.N. for seven months. General Moeldoko stated that the spirit demonstrated by the Indonesian troops during the maritime task force mission had boosted the capacity of Indonesian diplomacy and the international role of the TNI. "The success of the Indonesian troops during each U.N. mission must serve as a reference to increase our capacity and capability, both from the managerial and operational aspects," he added. However, the success also posed a challenge for the TNI to be more prepared, the General pointed out. Till date, Indonesia has sent five maritime task forces to serve under U.N. peace missions in Lebanon. The task forces are the Konga XXVIII-A/UNIFIL aboard KRI Diponegoro-365 (MTF-1) in 2009, the Konga XXVIII-B/UNIFIL aboard KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368 (MTF-2) in 2010, the Konga XXVIII-C/UNIFIL aboard KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367 (MTF-3) in 2011, the Konga XXVIII-D/UNIFIL aboard KRI Sultan Hasanuddin-366 (MTF-4) in 2012 and the Konga XXVIII-E/UNIFIL aboard KRI Diponegoro-365 (MTF-5) in 2013. (*)