The battalion members would serve in duties to help maintain stability, and safeguard the construction or rehabilitation of public facilities and infrastructure in the West African country.
Semarang, C.Java (ANTARA News) - Regional Military Command IV/Diponegoro chief Maj Gen Mulhim Asyrof here Monday sent off 130 members of an Army engineers battalion to Jakarta en route to the Congo for service in a UN peacekeeping force.

The sending off ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Combat Engineers Battalion 4/Tanpa Kawandya in Banyubiru Ambarawa, Semarang district.

In his remarks on the occasion, Nulhim said the battalion members would serve in duties to help maintain stability, and safeguard the construction or rehabilitation of public facilities and infrastructure in the West African country.

"Your overseas assignment has been made under the auspices of the United Nations and is part of the the National Defense Forces (TNI)`s military operations for purposes other than war under the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No 34/2004 on the Indonesian Army and based on the principles of Indonesia`s independent and active foreign policy," Mulhim said.

He said the unit`s members during their service in Congo were required to constantly uphold Indonesia`s good name in the international world in every task they were carrying out as well as to establish good coordination and relations with the local government, including with the troops from other countries.

The regional military commander said the men of the Combat Engineers Battalion 4/Tanpa Kawandya would be replacing soldiers from the Combat Engineers Battalion 10 based in Papua who would soon end their stint in Congo and return home.

"Before departure for the Congo, you will join a program to orient you to your peacekeeping mission at the Indonesian Army headquarters with 45 soldiers from other military units," he said.

He said the Combat Engineer Battalion 4/Tanpa Kawandya soldiers who were specially selected from 600 soldiers had also been equipped with traditional art skills such as Reog and Jatilan, Kecak and Saman dances as well as tambourines.

"The various arts are expected to be introduced and performed to the Congo people at a time of national celebration in the country as a means to introduce Indonesia culture," Mulhim said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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