Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is preparing to repatriate the remains of Private First Class Rico Pramudia, an Indonesian peacekeeper who sustained severe injuries while serving with UNIFIL in southern Lebanon last March and passed away on Friday (April 24).

“The administrative process to repatriate the late soldier is ongoing, while the TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) has conveyed its condolences to Pramudia's family. His funeral arrangements will be subject to the family's decision,” Indonesian Army Information Office Chief Brigadier General Donny Pramono said on Saturday.

According to a press release, the exact date of the arrival of the remains in Indonesia has yet to be determined as preparations are still underway.

Pramono said the Indonesian Army expressed its profound condolences over the loss and paid its highest respect to Pramudia, who died while serving in a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

With the death of Private First Class Rico Pramudia, Indonesia has lost four TNI soldiers serving with UNIFIL in southern Lebanon over the past month.

The previous casualty was Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon, who died in an artillery attack on March 29, in the same incident that initially injured Pramudia.

On March 30, two other TNI personnel, Captain Inf Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and Sergeant First Class Muhammad Nur Ikhwan, were killed when the convoy they were escorting came under attack.

TNI Information Office Chief Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah confirmed on April 20 that Pramudia had sustained severe injuries in the March 29 attack. Meanwhile, Private Bayu Prakoso and Private Arif Kurniawan suffered minor injuries in the same incident.

Due to his injuries, Pramudia was immediately evacuated from the front line in southern Lebanon to St. George Hospital in Beirut. Despite nearly a month of intensive care, he succumbed to his wounds on Friday.

Meanwhile, a preliminary finding by UNIFIL indicated that the March 29 attack, which resulted in the deaths of Pramudia and Rhomadhon, was caused by Israeli artillery.

Related news: Indonesia's DPR presses UNIFIL safety review after personnel deaths

Related news: UN peacekeeper from Indonesia dies after Lebanon attack: UNIFIL